Agartala-Akhaura railway link to connect India and Bangladesh; will be completed by 2017

Of the 15.054 km track, 5 km would be on Indian and the rest 10 km would be in Bangladesh. The entire project cost would be borne by the India.

AGARTALA: The process of laying 15.054 km long railway tracks to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh will be completed by 2017.

A team comprising technical experts of IRCON, representatives of state government and Indian High Commission in Dhaka visited the sites of laying the tracks, Chief Engineer of NF Railway Harpal Singh said.

Of the 15.054 km track, five km would be on Indian side and the rest ten km would be in Bangladesh.

He said the team had decided that a fly over of 3.7 km would be constructed in the five km areas in Indian side to save cultivable lands and the present Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be changed.

The entire project cost would be borne by the Indian government.

He said there was meeting in NITI Ayog on June 18 last in Delhi regarding the Indo-Bangla rail project and the team visited the site to follow-up the decisions of the meeting.
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New Delhi is keen to establish the rail link as it would connect West Bengal and Tripura through Bangladesh.

During Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January 2010, India and Bangladesh had agreed to lay the tracks between Akhaura and Agartala.

The 15-km-long Agartala-Akhaura railway route would connect Indian Railways with the Bangladesh Railways through the North-East which would improve connectivity and boost trade between the two countries.

The 1,700 km distance between Agartala and Kolkata through chicken neck near Siliguri would be reduced to 350 km if passengers from here could move through Bangladesh, officials said.
Seven recommendations for Railways by Debroy panel
1/8
TNN

Debroy Panel, a reform report by an 8-member panel is headed by Bibek Debroy. The committee was set up in September 2014 when Sadananda Gowda was the Railway Minister.

Gowda felt that Railway boards had become unwieldy.

Let's take a look 7 important recommendations for Railways sugggested by Debroy panel...
TNN

Debroy Panel, a reform report by an 8-member panel is headed by Bibek Debroy. The committee was set up in September 2014 when Sadananda Gowda was the Railway Minister.

Gowda..
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Must focus on remuneravtive freight segment and e-commerce segment.

Leasing of parcel vans in trains through auction of carrying capacity/ private parcel trains and concessioning of train services.

Must encourage on-board catering through food chains & local restaurants on payment of modest license fee.

Separate activities such as running of hospitals, schools, catering, security, real estate development, manufacturing of locomotives, coaches and wagons from core function of running trains.
Must focus on remuneravtive freight segment and e-commerce segment.

Leasing of parcel vans in trains through auction of carrying capacity/ private parcel trains and concessioning of train serv..
Read More
State governmenets should be persuaded to bear entire cost of GRP and GMs/DRMs should have freedom to choose between private agencies and RPF for security of trains.
State governmenets should be persuaded to bear entire cost of GRP and GMs/DRMs should have freedom to choose between private agencies and RPF for security of trains.
Set up responsive, transparent, accounting and costing system.
Set up responsive, transparent, accounting and costing system.
Amalgamate existing service into single unified railway service, or create two sets of services to deal with technical and non-technical aspects.
Amalgamate existing service into single unified railway service, or create two sets of services to deal with technical and non-technical aspects.
Lateral entry of talent from outside Railways such as CAs, cost accountants, bankers, financial management experts, etc.
Lateral entry of talent from outside Railways such as CAs, cost accountants, bankers, financial management experts, etc.
Educational needs of children of railway employees could be met bu subsidizing their education in alternative schools, including KVs and private schools.
Educational needs of children of railway employees could be met bu subsidizing their education in alternative schools, including KVs and private schools.
Give GMs/DRMs and employees choice to opt for services such as medical tests, pre-employment exam, safe water and food supply at stations either through Indian Railway Medical Services or private empanelled practitioners.

For preventive and curative healthcare, choice may be extended to CGHS framework; subsidized healthcare in private hospitals should not be restricted to referral services.
Give GMs/DRMs and employees choice to opt for services such as medical tests, pre-employment exam, safe water and food supply at stations either through Indian Railway Medical Services or private emp..
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