Dhaka: The much-awaited first train service between India and Bangladesh will operate once a week from April 14,facilitating easy travel between the two countries after a gap of four decades.

The Moitree (Friendship) Express, which was earlier slated to restart in July last year, will operate between the Cantonment Railway Station in Dhaka and Chitpur station in Kolkata through the Darshana border, it was decided at a two-day meeting of officials from both sides here.

It will leave Dhaka at 8:30 AM every Saturday, returning the next day while the train from Kolkata will start for Dhaka at 7:10 AM (local time) on Saturday and return on Sunday.

The train will cover a distance of 538km in about 14 hours and have a seating capacity of 418 passengers.

The fare has been fixed at eight dollars per person for economy class and $12 per person for a seat in the air-conditioned compartment. A sleeper berth will cost $20. Passengers will be allowed to carry 35 kilograms of baggage.

"We've tied up all loose ends, and are now completely ready for the start of the train service," Railway Board's R N Varma, who led the seven-member Indian delegation told reporters here.

A formal agreement was expected to be signed any day ahead of the Bengali New Year Pahela Baishakh when the service was set to resume, Bangladesh's Communication Ministry's Additional Secretary ATKM Ismail said after the talks concluded yesterday.

"We have completed all arrangements for starting the cross-border train service resolving all the unsettled issues," he said.

The train service was stalled after a war with Pakistan four decades ago and has had several trial runs.

Bangladesh last month gave up its opposition to an Indian proposal for constructing box-type fencing in no man's land to prevent smuggling and infiltration.
Source : PTI