AGARTALA, June 4 (TIWN): Agreeing to ply direct bus from Agartala to Kolkata via Bangladesh capital Dhaka Tripura government planned to purchase two air-conditioned buses. State Transport department asked Tripura Road Transport Corporation, govt. undertaking and state urban department to purchase the two buses, said Minister Manik Dey on Wednesday.However, Dey informed that the fare charge has not yet been fixed but a high level meeting at Dhaka would finalize it soon.According to the West Bengal Transport Department cost of one ‘Volvo’ 45-seater air-conditioned bus is Rs. 80 lakhs. Following which the state govt. has planned to buy at least two air-conditioned buses, said official. The officials also said that there are no spare parts for ‘Volvo’ bus here in Tripura to ensure comfortable journey for the passengers and ensuring no technical fault the state govt. here has planned to buy other air-conditioned buses instead ‘Volvo’.Besides, on Wednesday talking to the reporters here at the civil secretariat Minister Manik Dey said, “After talking to the ‘Volvo’ company if they can open their stores in Tripura the state govt. would take a final decision whether ‘Volvo’ bus would be purchased or not.” Adding to that Minister said, but the govt. has decided to purchase other air-conditioned buses.In regard of the fare charge Dey infirmed, “Fare charge has not yet been decided, but a final decision would be taken very soon.”

But is has been learnt that in the high level meeting held on June 2 at Agartala state guest house, Tripura govt. has demanded the fare charge to be fixed at Rs. 1200 for each passenger ensuring the less fare than the flight fare, so that the passenger can feel free to take up the journey by bus to travel Kolkata.

But West Bengal transport officials rested at Rs. 2000 for each passenger saying that they have already invested high buying ‘Volvo’ bus with a cost of Rs. 80 lakhs.

However, the final decision has not yet been taken in this regard and the fare charge would likely to be Rs. 1800 for each passenger. 

Minister Manik Dey on Wednesday said to reporters, “State Transport department writing a letter to the External Home Affairs Ministry and Surface Transport Ministry had earlier demanded to keep the custom immigration centre open till 10:00 AM ensuring safe journey for the travelers.” At present the custom immigration centre remains open from 6:00 AM till 6:00 PM.

On June 6 PM Modi-Hasina would flag off two bus services, including Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and another Dhaka-Guwahati direct bus service. Security has been tightened up in wake of PM Modi’s visit to Bangladesh on June 6.

WB CM Mamata Banarjee would also remain present during the programme. The flag off would kick the start from 4:00 PM at Bangladesh PMO office. According to the highly placed source, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had not yet  received the invitation to attend the flag off ceremony at Dhaka.