Restoration of bonds of friendship between India and Bangladesh
ATES POST: In order to further strengthen the people-to-people contact between India and Bangladesh through rail, the Government of India and Bangladesh, after several meetings, introduced a new passenger rail service Mithali Express through the recently restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail link. decided to start. This 3rd passenger train service between New Jalpaiguri (India) – Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Mithali Express was launched through virtual medium from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi today (i.e. 1st June, 2022) Hon’ble Railway Minister of India Shri Ashwini Vaishnav and Hon’ble Minister of Bangladesh Jointly flagged off by Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Mohd. Noorul Islam Sujan. This rail service was inaugurated on March 27, 2021 by both the Prime Ministers through virtual medium. Earlier, this train could not be started due to COVID pandemic restrictions.
In his address on the occasion, Shri Ashwini Vaishnav said that Mithali Express will prove to be another important achievement in enhancing this friendship, strengthening this bond, improving this relationship. The warm friendship between the two countries at all levels has accelerated the development. A lot of cooperative efforts have been made between the railways of the two countries. This is a very opportune moment; A moment when we should take major steps to strengthen our ties between the two countries.
Mithali Express train will run twice a week (arriving Dhaka at 11:45 hrs & 22:30 hrs on Sunday & Wednesday from New Jalpaiguri and will depart from Dhaka at 21:50 hrs on Monday & Thursday and will reach New Jalpaiguri at 07:15 hrs) and New Jalpaiguri will run twice a week. Jalpaiguri to Dhaka will cover a distance of 595 kms (of which 61 kms is Indian part). LHB Coaches (like those used in Maitree Express and Bandhan Express) of Indian Railways will be used which consists of 4 Coaches First AC Class, 4 Coaches Air Conditioned Chair Car and 2 Engines. The train will have three categories – AC First Class (Cabin) Sleeper, AC First Class (Cabin) Seat and AC Chair Car. The fares for this train will be US$ 44, US$ 33 and US$ 22 respectively.
The additional new passenger service, the Mithali Express, will boost tourism between the two countries as it connects Bangladesh with north Bengal as well as India’s northeastern region. This train will also provide a means for Bangladeshi citizens to go to Nepal through India.
This new train is in addition to the two existing passenger train services between India and Bangladesh, the Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express (five-weekly) and the Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express (two-weekly). The services of the above two trains, which were suspended due to COVID pandemic restrictions, have now been resumed with effect from 29 May 2022.