AKHAURA-AGARTALA RAIL LINK (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Recently, in a historic development, Bangladesh and northeast India re-established rail connectivity through Tripura, ending a nearly seven-and-a-half-decade hiatus. The long-anticipated Akhaura-Agartala rail connection was virtually inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India and Bangladesh's Prime Minister.

Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link

• The rail link measures 12.24 km, comprising a 6.78-km dual gauge line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura
• The rail line between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh would pave the way for the first train to run from the northeastern region to Bangladesh
• The link will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India and from there to Agartala.
• The Project was at standstill because of the sharp increase in the cost of land for the sections in India.