Kolkata: Eastern Railway is ready to resume the direct, cross-border passenger train operations between India and Bangladesh.An official said diplomatic talks were underway to restore the vital services though no date was announced for the resumption of the Kolkata-Dhaka train. “We are prepared to operate the services as soon as the dates are announced. The rakes and the coaches have been cleaned and maintained to run at any moment,” the official said.The Indian Railways suspended Mitali, Maitree and Bandhan expresses for an indefinite period following the political shift in Bangladesh. The rakes of Maitree and Bandhan expresses are in Kolkata.The talks on resuming the cross-border trains followed India’s move to again issue tourist visas after a two-year freeze. Within 24 hours of the visa decision, an overwhelming rush was reported at visa centres in Bangladesh. Thousands of Bangladeshi nationals, who visit Kolkata for treatment, have since been hoping for the restoration train services, given the high airfares.In Dec 2024, after the foreign secretaries of India and Bangladesh met in Dhaka amid the political turmoil there, the rakes of Mitali Express—it connects New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka—returned to India after nearly five months. The Bangladeshi engine entered India through the Chilahati border and left the rakes of Mitali Express at Haldibari station before returning for Bangladesh. “The rakes are in good condition and are being maintained daily. They can be used immediately,” a railway official said.
