Agartala, Nov 1: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly launched three virtual projects, one of which is a crucial train connection between Nischintapur, Tripura, and Gangasagar, the neighbouring nation. The 65-kilometer Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line and Unit 2 of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, Bangladesh, are the other two projects that Modi and Hasina officially opened. The Agartala-Akhaura Cross Border Rail Link’s opening, which is an India-Bangladesh rail project, was described by Modi as a “historic” occasion. “This is the first rail link between the northeast and Bangladesh,” he declared. The three programmes are all development endeavours with support from India.The 12.24-km rail project between Nischintapur and Gangasagar (6.78 km dual gauge line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura) is anticipated to improve cross-border trade and cut down on the amount of time it takes to get from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka. We are happy to have reconnected to commemorate the accomplishments of the India-Bangladesh collaboration. During a video conference with Hasina, Modi stated, “The work we have done together over the past nine years has not happened in decades.” According to Hasina, the three projects will improve the two nations’ cooperation on infrastructure development.The simultaneous launch of these significant initiatives demonstrates our close friendship and cooperative relationship. Additionally, I want to thank PM Modi for his gracious hospitality when I visited him in September for the G20 Summit,” she stated. According to sources, India had given Bangladesh a grant assistance of Rs 392.52 crore for the Agartala-Akhaura Cross Border Rail Link. A 65-kilometer broad gauge line was built as part of the Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line to connect Bangladesh’s Mongla Port with Khulna’s pre-existing rail system.The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd., a 50:50 joint venture between India’s NTPC and the Bangladesh Power Development Board, was in charge of carrying out the 1,320 MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Project. The facility is situated in Bangladesh’s Khulna division near Rampal.
