Indian Railways to expedite Bangladesh rail upgrade

January 12, 2010 08:54 pm | Updated 08:54 pm IST - New Delhi

NEW DELHI, 21/12/2009: Union Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee. December 21, 2009. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar.

NEW DELHI, 21/12/2009: Union Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee. December 21, 2009. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar.

India on Tuesday assured Bangladesh of speedy implementation of projects on rail infrastructure upgrade in the neigbouring country.

All rail projects would be speeded up as per the agreement with Bangladesh, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said after meeting Bangla Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here.

A railway link between Rohanpur and Singhabad to facilitate transit traffic from Bangladesh to Nepal through India and making Akhoura-Agartala line operational among others were finalised yesterday between the two countries.

Indian Railways would help Bangladesh to build rail infrastructure that is expected to allow train services from Kolkata to Tripura, she said.

“India always had good relations with Bangladesh and its people,” Ms. Banerjee said.

On cultural ties, she said, “We have a great cultural affinity with the country. There will be exchange of artistes between the two countries on the celebration of the 150 years of Rabindra Nath Tagore’s birth anniversary which will be observed in a big way.”

Asked whether Hasina had invited her to visit Dhaka, Ms. Banerjee said in the affirmative. “I have the invitation from her. But the date and timings will be decided later on.”

While Ms. Banerjee had presented sarees and sweets from Bengal to Ms. Hasina, the latter had presented two volumes of a book written by her.

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