India-Bangladesh train link a dream

Nischintapur (West Tripura): A train from this sleepy Indian village crossing the international zero line and entering Bangladesh is the dream of Daghu Miah.

Miah, a septuagenarian peasant, does not have any objection to his paddy field being acquired for the proposed railway station linking the two countries, though his land is the only means of livelihood for him and the families of his three sons.

Railways officials have made visits and marked 12 bighas of land with the maximum amount belonging to Miah.

He, however, is apprehensive whether the Railways will provide him the proper value for the land.

"I will have no problem if I can manage to procure the same amount of land elsewhere with the compensation given by Railways. But, I fear the money given during acquisition may not be enough," he told PTI.

The Indian Railways recently approved Rs 267 crore for laying a 14 km railway track to connect Agartala, Tripura's capital, with Akhaura in Bangladesh.

The Northeastern Frontier Railway (NFR) is likely to undertake work for laying tracks by October next year, Special Secretary to Transport department Kishore Ambuly said.