AGARTALA, June 9 (TIWN): People of the Left ruled Tripura on Monday welcoming the new direct bus service between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh capital Dhaka said, “The trans-boundary bus service to Kolkata from Agartala via Dhaka would not only facilitate the people here in Tripura but also would bring a great boon for other North Eastern states and Kolkata.”The Agartala-Kolkata via Dhaka direct bus service was flagged off on June 6, Saturday at Dhaka by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.A section of people on Monday expressing pleasure over the direct bus service said, “The medical treatment facilities would be boosted up now as the bus between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka has begun.” Adding to that they claimed, earlier some poorer section of the people of the state here had to face several hurdles flying to Kolkata by flights for medical treatment of their patients but now as the bus service has begun, it would facilitate them at large.“No more high fare by flight from Agartala to Kolkata, we now look forward to travel through bus as it has begun, but also we are hoping that the fare would be low as compared to the flight fares.”

It has also brought a facility by reducing travel time between the two cities, making the journey affordable and smooth, claimed the people of Tripura.  However, the distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is only around 500 km.

Besides, flagged off by PM Modi and Hasina on June 6 the new bus services would also benefit and boost the tourism sector of both the states, jobs related issues, trade and commerce between Agartala and Kolkata including Dhaka.

However on June 6 Modi-Hasina had inked at least 22 agreements with an aim to grow the Indo-Bangla relation at large which has generated keen interest in India's north eastern states including Tripura.

Welcoming the historical blow of PM Modi Tripura secretary for export and import association (ICP) Habul Biswas said, “We all are very excited as the new bus service between the two starts has begun.” Adding to that he also said the trade and business between the North Eastern states including Tripura and its neighbouring country Bangladesh would boost up now with a another boon the economy of the states.

However as per the tentative decision the Tripura government would ply its bus 2 days a week whereas the West Bengal government would ply 4 days a week. The fare rate has not yet been decided and is likely to be finalized soon on another high level meeting to be held at Dhaka.

According to the officials, passenger needs to have transit VISA, Passports, Voter ID cards to travel to Kolkata from Agartala via Dhaka. A total of 18 hours would be needed to reach Kolkata from here.  

Besides, Tripura government is planning to buy ‘Volvo’ bus or other air-conditioned bus. As part of the trial run Tripura government plied its TRTC bus to Kolkata via Dhaka, and later to attend the flag off ceremony on June 6, the govt. has send another bus borrowing from state tourism department.