C T Online Desk: The train service between Rajshahi and Kolkata is set to resume after a 77-year hiatus.
This announcement was made following a meeting between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, where they discussed several bilateral initiatives. Among the 13 initiatives announced, the revival of the Rajshahi-Kolkata train service stood out.
The news has already sparked hope among residents of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, and Naogaon.
People from various professions in these regions believe that the new train service will not only facilitate travel for the northern region, including Rajshahi, but also create a new communication link with India. This is expected to boost the economy of the Rajshahi region significantly.
Additionally, the Rajshahi-Kolkata train will enhance Rajshahi’s importance in communications with India, Nepal, and Bhutan, potentially turning Rajshahi into a hub for trade and commerce.
Furthermore, the train service will alleviate the travel difficulties faced by people from the Rajshahi region travelling to India.
Currently, there is only a cargo train connection with India through the Rohanpur railway port in Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj district, which has led to renovations of railways in both countries.
Rajshahi was connected to Kolkata via rail through Malda and Murshidabad in India. However, this connection ceased in 1947 following the partition of India and Pakistan. Despite the interruption, a significant number of people from the Rajshahi region continue to travel to India for various purposes such as medical treatment and tourism. The Rajshahi-Kolkata train has always been considered crucial. Thus, after the establishment of the Dhaka-Kolkata and Khulna-Kolkata routes, the Rajshahi-Kolkata train has gained even more significance.
According to sources from Western Railway, the Rajshahi-Kolkata train will traverse through Rohanpur border in Chapainawabganj, then through Singabad, Malda, Farakka, Katwa, and Khagraghat in India to reach Howrah station in Kolkata. This route covers a distance of 425km and takes approximately 11 hours. Conversely, a 215-kilometer route through the Gede border would take about five and a half hours. The exact train route has yet to be finalized, pending discussions between railway officials of both countries.
The demand for a Rajshahi-Kolkata train has been longstanding among the local population. This proposal was included in the election manifesto of Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, and its fulfilment has been met with widespread excitement in Rajshahi following the announcement made after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
