AGARTALA, Oct 25 (TIWN): With a puja and special offerings, the Indo-Bangla Railway Project work has finally begun on Wednesday. The puja was conducted by the employees, workers under the project as a part of work-inauguration. On Monday, NFR Chief Administrative Officer A K Yadav had visited Tripura in this purpose. During in his one day visit in Tripura, Yadav told media that the ongoing Indo-Bangla railway project to be finished in time. Yadav said that the earlier announced time for Indo-Bangla railway’s functioning will be followed. However, as per the earlier announced date by the Central Ministers, the Indo-Bangla railway is most likely be functioned from 2019's beginning.

Earlier, Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda in the month of August said, “Works on Indo-Bangla projects are going on in Tripura Part and the Bangladesh side expectedly to be completed by next year December”.

Samarjit Bhowmik (Former Transport Secretary while the project began) while visiting Indo-Bangla railway projects, told media  that as per as India side is concerned works had begun in Tripura side and for Bangladesh side the govt has sought time till 2018's December. “By 2019's January the project most likely to be finished and come under functioning”, said Samarjit  Bhowmik. 

However, the project would boost Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East' policy. The Indian government has the highest priority to the Agartala-Akhaura railway project that would automatically connect the rail network of both the countries developing the bonding between two countries. Agartala-Akhaura railway project would provide a major boost to development and economy of the northeastern region of India and eastern Bangladesh. Modi discussed the over Rs.1, 000 crore railway project with Hasina during his visit to Dhaka in June last year.

An agreement to implement the railway project was signed between India’s former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina during her visit to India in January 2010.