AGARTALA, May 28 (TIWN): Bus service from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka to commence very soon after formal inauguration at Dhaka by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6. As part of the trial run Kolkata bus would arrive here in Agartala via Dhaka on June 2, said Minister Manik Dey on Thursday. Later another meeting is likely to be held between the Govt. of India and Bangladesh Government, he said.Talking to the reporters here at the secretariat on Thursday State Transport Minister Manik Dey informed that West Bengal Government has recently informed the state govt. issuing a letter to the Transport Secretary that they would ply a bus from Kolkata to Agartala via Dhaka as part of the trial run before the bus service commence.Dey said, “A bus bearing number WB-23D-1203 would arrive here in Agartala Akhaura Check post on June 2 from Kolkata via Dhaka as part of the trial run".The bus would start from Kolkata on June 1 with the transport officials of West Bengal along with others. It would enter Agartala Akhaura check post at 11:00 AM. Dey said that the TRTC Managing Director (MD) was asked to make all necessary arrangements to keep the Kolkata bus at its station. “Govt. of Tripura is also planning to seek permission from Govt. of India to ply a bus from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka as part of trial run,” Dey adding said that no information has come from the Govt. of India in regard of the bus service as of now.

The govt. officials here along with the transport department officers would remain present at Akhaura check post on June 2 to receive the officials coming through thee Kolkata bus. The state as well as the Centre, in coordination with the Bangladesh government, is working on a war footing to streamline immigration and protocol issues. 

Earlier on Wednesday Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that he has not yet got invitation to visit Bangladesh during Prime Minister’s visit June 6-7.

On yet another historical stride, Govt. of India for the first time would use the Bangladesh territory as a transit corridor to reach one of its furthest corners.

For the Kolkata-Tripura route, the state has proposed to run the services from Kolkata thrice a week, with the buses passing through two Indo-Bangla checkposts, one at Petrapol-Benapole and the other at Akhaura-Agartala. The fare, which is yet to be finalized, is not likely to be more than Rs 2,000. 

However, it was a long-standing demand of the people of Tripura to have a direct bus connection with Kolkata.

Besides, Minister Manik Dey said after several meetings where Tripura govt. proposed to start direct bus service from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka, Govt. of India and Bangladesh Govt. has agreed to it. “The direct bus service from Agartala to Kolkata would bring respite for the commuters here in Tripura from spending high fares to travel to Kolkata,” Dey said.

People of different sections here are at present facing several hurdles travelling to Kolkata as they have to spend high fares to the airlines. The air connectivity is the only means for the Tripura travellers to travel Kolkata as there are no other ways to go through. Besides the BG conversion line is under construction as a result the train service here has halted for the past several months.