India begins final survey for new rail links connecting to Bangladesh and Nepal

India has initiated the final survey for selecting sites for new railway tracks to enhance cross-border connectivity with Bangladesh and Nepal, aiming to establish alternative routes to its northeastern states.

The project includes the construction of 14 new railways, extending 861 km to boost rail links with Bangladesh. Indian Railways will conduct the survey to identify suitable locations, with plans to lay an additional 202.5 km of railway tracks connecting Nepal and another 212 km towards northeast India, as reported by the Times of India on Wednesday.
Furthermore, the project involves rehabilitating old railway lines along the borders of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Feni, Chattogram, and Jashore. The project may also integrate connectivity with the Padma Bridge.
Sabyasachi Dey, the chief public relations officer of India’s Northeast Frontier Railway, outlined a proposed 32 km route from Balurghat in Dakshin Dinajpur District and Gitaldaha in Cooch Behar District in West Bengal to Hili, Parbatipur, Kaunia, Lalmonirhat, and Mogolhat in Bangladesh, with 14 km of new railway links.
Additionally, a 250 km track is planned from Balurghat to Hili and Gaibandha to Mahendraganj, Tura, and Mendipathar. A new 60 km railway line will connect Bihar’s Mangurjan to West Bengal’s Haldibari via Bangladesh’s Pirgonj, Thakurgaon, and Panchagarh. Another 80 km route will extend from Dalkhola in West Bengal through Pirgonj, Thakurgaon, and Panchagarh to Haldibari in Cooch Behar.
Indian Railways will also survey a 32 km line from Radhikapur in Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, to Gitaldaha through Birol, Parbatipur, and Kaunia. The Bilonia to Feni and Chattogram rail route will be 131 km long, with 38 km of new tracks and 93 km requiring rehabilitation.
A 100 km line gauge will be modified to facilitate a train route from West Bengal’s Gede to Agartala through Darshana, Ishwardi, Tongi, Bhairab Bazar, and Akhaura in Bangladesh. Additionally, a separate line will be constructed from Petrapole to Agartala through Benapole, Jashore, Rupdia, Narail, and the Padma Bridge.
India has proposed running trains through Bangladesh to shorten domestic routes to the northeastern states and Bhutan. Bangladesh is also considering this railway connectivity project, and an inter-ministerial meeting has been held to discuss it.