Evajzp: put up initial entry w/ infobox

2026-04-13T22:03:17Z

put up initial entry w/ infobox

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{{Short description|Railway line in Bangladesh and India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Akhaura–Agartala line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type = Railway line
| system =
| status = Non-operational
| locale = {{plainlist|*[[Bangladesh]]
*[[India]]}}
| start = [[Akhaura Junction railway station]]
| end = [[Agartala railway station]]
| stations = 4
| routes =
| ridership =
| close =
| owner = {{plainlist|*[[Bangladesh Railway]]
*[[Indian Railways]]}}
| operator = {{plainlist|*[[East Zone (Bangladesh Railway)|East Zone]] (Bangladesh)
*[[Northeast Frontier Railway zone]] (India)}}
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{Convert|12.24|km|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| notrack =
| gauge = {{plainlist|*[[Dual gauge]] (Bangladesh)
*[[Broad-gauge]] (India)}}
| open = 1 November 2023
| ogauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| el =
| speed =
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Akhaura–Agartala line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
'''Akhaura–Agartala line''' is an international railway line between [[Brahmanbaria District|Akhaura]] in [[Bangladesh]] and [[Agartala]] in [[India|India's]] northeastern state of [[Tripura]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.banglanews24.com/india/news/bd/84427.details|title=আগরতলা-আখাউড়া রেলপথের কাজ এগোচ্ছে|website=[[Banglanews24.com]]|lang=bn|date=27 January 2012|access-date=28 November 2022|archive-date=27 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127231637/https://www.banglanews24.com/india/news/bd/84427.details|url-status=live}}</ref> Conceived as a strategic infrastructure project, the line was expected to significantly reduce travel time between [[Kolkata]] and Agartala from 31 hours to 10 hours with lowering the cost of cargo transport between Bangladesh and [[Northeast India]]. It was also projected to bolster tourism, enhance bilateral trade and improve connectivity to other northeastern Indian states such as [[Assam]], southern [[Mizoram]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]].

It was formally inaugurated on 1 November 2023 but remains non-operational as of 2025, with pending infrastructural works and the [[Government of India]] halting further progress in April 2025.

==History==
[[File:Akhaura Agartala Line Monument by Monir.jpg|thumb|Construction inauguration plaque at [[Akhaura Junction railway station]].]]

A [[memorandum of understanding]] was signed between the Governments of India and Bangladesh on 16 February 2013 to establish the rail connection between [[Agartala railway station]] in India's northeastern state of [[Tripura]] and [[Akhaura Junction railway station]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/work-on-agartala-akhaura-rail-link-to-commence-soon/articleshow/36756922.cms|title=Work on Agartala-Akhaura rail link to commence soon|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 February 2021|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515223320/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/work-on-agartala-akhaura-rail-link-to-commence-soon/articleshow/36756922.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The project involves a 12.24 km railway line, with 5.46 km on the Indian side and 6.78 km in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Saptaparno |date=2023-11-09 |title=Explained {{!}} The Agartala-Akhaura rail link |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-the-agartala-akhaura-rail-link/article67516621.ece |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Akhaura-Agartala Railway Link to Reduce Travel Time, Spur Commerce |url=https://www.sasec.asia/index.php?page=news&nid=1540&url=new-akhaura-agartala-rail-link-reduce-travel-time#:~:text=Bangladesh%20Prime%20Minister%20Sheikh%20Hasina,held%20on%201%20November%202023. |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=SASEC |language=en-US}}</ref>

The total cost of the project was estimated at {{INR|972.52}} crore, covering both the Indian and Bangladeshi portions. The Indian segment was initially sanctioned at {{INR|580}} crore, but the estimate was later revised, all of which has been released by the [[Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region]]. The Bangladeshi segment is being built at a cost of {{INR|392.52}} crore, funded through grant assistance by India’s [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Bikash |date=2023-11-01 |title=New India-Bangladesh rail line to cut distance between NE states and Kolkata to 500 km against existing 1600 km |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/new-india-bangladesh-rail-line-to-cut-distance-between-ne-states-and-kolkata-to-500-km-against-existing-1600-km/articleshow/104891378.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

Construction began on 29 July 2018, but the project faced delays due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and missed several deadlines, initially 2020, then pushed to May 2021,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dbcnews.tv/articles/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A7-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4|title=আখাউড়া-আগরতলা রেলপথ: সময় বাড়ল ২০২১ সালের মে পর্যন্ত|lang=bn|date=4 October 2020|access-date=28 November 2022|website=Dbcnews.tv|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205043318/https://dbcnews.tv/articles/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A8%E0%A7%A7-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4|url-status=live}}</ref> June 2022<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B6-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80|title=আখাউড়া-আগরতলা রেলপথের অগ্রগতি নিয়ে হতাশ রেলমন্ত্রী|lang=bn|date=7 April 2022|access-date=28 November 2022|newspaper=[[Prothom Alo]]|archive-date=27 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127231227/https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B6-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80|url-status=live}}</ref> and June 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bangla.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news-413911|title=আখাউড়া-আগরতলা রেলপথ: ৪ বছরেও শেষ হয়নি ১৮ মাসের প্রকল্প|lang=bn|first=Masuk|last=Hridoy|date=9 November 2022|access-date=28 November 2022|newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]|archive-date=27 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127230936/https://bangla.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news-413911|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/88-agartala-akhaura-international-railway-connectivity-project-complete-work-finish-next-5-6-months-tripura-transport-minister-8526468/lite/|title=88% of Agartala-Akhaura international railway connectivity project complete, work to finish in next 5-6 months: Tripura transport minister|first=Debraj|last=Deb|date=29 March 2023|access-date=4 April 2023|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

A trial run of an empty container train was conducted successfully in September 2023.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/freight-train-trial-conducted-in-agartala-akhaura-rail-route/article67308604.ece/ | title=Freight train trial conducted in Agartala-Akhaura rail route | newspaper=The Hindu | date=14 September 2023 | last1=Ali | first1=Syed Sajjad }}</ref> The line was inaugurated on 1 November 2023 in a virtual ceremony by Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and Bangladeshi Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/akhaura-agartala-rail-link-inauguration-historic-pm-modi-bangladeshs-sheikh-hasina-jointly-unveil-3-development-projects-9008701/lite/ | title='Historic': PM Modi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurate cross-border rail link | date=2 November 2023|access-date=2 November 2023|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

The Indian portion was executed by [[Ircon International|IRCON International Limited]], while the Bangladeshi portion was handled by [[Bangladesh Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-15 |title=Agartala-Akhaura rail line to be completed by December: Official |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/infrastructure-agartala-akhaura-rail-line-to-be-completed-by-december-official-2311303/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref> A notable infrastructure element on the Indian side is a 3.7 km viaduct, designed to minimize the impact on cultivable land.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-10 |title=Land acquisition for Bangladesh rail link to start soon |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/land-acquisition-for-bangladesh-rail-link-to-start-soon-2905047/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The railway features dual gauge tracks in Bangladesh and broad gauge tracks in India.

As of 2025, despite the inauguration, regular passenger and freight services remain non-operational due to incomplete approach infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Fueling Tripura – Bangladesh connectivity! Maitri Setu and Agartala-Akhaura Rail link to start operations soon, says CM Manik Saha |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/fueling-tripura-bangladesh-connectivity-maitri-setu-and-agartala-akhaura-rail-link-to-start-operations-soon-says-cm-manik-saha/3492587/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Porecha |first=Maitri |date=2024-08-06 |title=Turmoil in Bangladesh delays Agartala-Akhaura line connectivity project further |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/turmoil-in-bangladesh-delays-agartala-akhaura-line-connectivity-project-further/article68493141.ece |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=Tripura: Cross-Border Projects Worth Rs 1,300 Crore Stalled Amid Bangladesh Political Unrest |url=https://www.business-northeast.com/tripura-cross-border-projects-stalled-bangladesh-unrest |access-date=2025-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250427083046/https://www.business-northeast.com/tripura-cross-border-projects-stalled-bangladesh-unrest |archive-date=27 April 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seli |first=Yeshi |date=2024-08-30 |title=Turmoil in Bangladesh likely to stall bilateral projects involving India |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2024/Aug/30/turmoil-in-bangladesh-likely-to-stall-bilateral-projects-involving-india |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In April 2025, Government of India halted the project, citing the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh and concerns over the safety of labour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India Halts Rail Projects In Bangladesh Amid Political Turmoil: Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/india-halts-rail-projects-in-bangladesh-amid-political-turmoil-in-dhaka-8225203 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Abhishek |date=2025-04-20 |title=Amidst Indo-Bangladesh tensions, railways halts connectivity initiative project funding |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/amidst-indo-bangladesh-tensions-railways-halts-connectivity-initiative-project-funding/article69470722.ece |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=BusinessLine |language=en}}</ref>

==Tourism==

Daily [[Borders_of_India#Border_ceremonies|India-Bangladesh Border Ceremony]] is held at the border.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=99444#:~:text=The%20Governments%20of%20India%20and%20Bangladesh%20have,Express%2C%20runs%20between%20Kolkata%20and%20Dhaka%20Cantonment. Press Information Bureau - Ministry of Railways]
*[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1983579 Press Information Bureau - Ministry of Development of North-East Region]

[[Category:Brahmanbaria District]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Agartala]]
[[Category:Dual gauge railways in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–India relations]]
[[Category:Cross-border railway lines in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:2023 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:2023 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2023]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhaura-Agartala line}}

Akhaura–Agartala line - Revision history

Evajzp: put up initial entry w/ infobox