Mamata to ask Hasina for shortcut via Bangla

New Delhi, Jan. 11: The railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, has made it a point to call on Ms Sheikh Hasina Wajed whenever she comes to India. But when Ms Banerjee calls on the Bangladesh Prime Minister on Tuesday, it will be a little more than a reunion of old acquaintances: The minister wants to take up India’s proposal to build a 14-km railway line connecting Akhaura in Bangladesh to Agartala, capital of the northeastern state of Tripura.

This line, which India considers of great strategic importance, has been discussed between officials of the two countries for many years, but this will be the first time it will be taken up at the top political level.

A detailed note on the proposed line has already been given to Ms Banerjee ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, at which the Railway Board chairman, Mr S.S. Khurana, is also likely to be present.

The Trinamul Congress chief hopes to benefit politically as well if this line materialises, and travel by train from West Bengal to Tripura across Bangladesh territory becomes possible, as it will make the journey shorter and cheaper.

At present, travelling by train from Kolkata to Agartala is a 1,600-km route which has to take the circuitous “Chicken’s Neck” corridor via New Jalpaiguri, on to Lumding and then Agartala.

If the 14-km track becomes operational, trains can travel from Kolkata to Dhaka, further eastwards to Akhaura in Bangladesh and then to Agartala, which is just six to seven kilometres from the Indo-Bangladesh border. The total distance will come down drastically to around 500 km.

Railway officials here say this “very old issue” can only be resolved at the highest diplomatic level.