India, B'desh to restore train services after 36 years
The train service between Calcutta and Dhaka is expected to start by July, says the inspector-general of railway police.
India and Bangladesh plan to restore a daily train service after a gap of 36 years, an official said on Wednesday.
The train service between Calcutta and Dhaka is expected to start by July, said Amarkanti Biswas, the inspector-general of railway police.
"We are taking all necessary steps to start the service," said Biswas. Biswas participated in a meeting of officials who reviewed and decided to expedite efforts to restore the rail link. Calcutta and Dhaka are at present connected by air and bus services.
The train services stopped in 1965 following a war between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh was then the eastern part of Pakistan and became independent in 1971.
The slow train is expected to cover a distance of 350 kilometers (215 miles) between Dhaka and Calcutta in 12 hours. Authorities on both sides have to clear encroachments by villagers who have started living in mud huts close to the railroad track.
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