The relations between India and Bangladesh have taken a step forward. In fact, the third passenger train service between the two countries will start from today and with the introduction of this new train service, the relationship between the two countries has also strengthened. This train will run from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station in Bangladesh. The train will cover a distance of about 513 km between New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal and Dhaka Cantonment in Bangladesh in nine hours.
New Jalpaiguri – Dhaka Cantt. Train No. 13132 will run twice a week (Sunday and Wednesday) and for return journey Train No. 13131, Dhaka Cantt- New Jalpaiguri, Mithali Express will run on every Monday and Thursday. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Bangladeshi Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan flagged off the train. The train will run with four air-conditioned cabin coaches and four air-conditioned chair cars. The cost of AC cabin berth ticket has been kept at Rs 4,905 while that of AC cabin chair car ticket is Rs 3,805 and that of AC chair car ticket has been kept at Rs 2,707.
Mithali Express Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav said after flagging off, “The Mithali Express will prove to be a milestone in enhancing the friendship, strengthening and improving the relationship between India and Bangladesh. This is the time when we should take more big steps to strengthen our relations and increase the trade between the two countries. Mithali Express will prove to be another milestone in growing this friendship, in strengthening this bond, in improving this relationship.”
The Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express was suspended due to Corona. It has now been made operational again from 29 May 2022. Earlier, train services between India-Bangladesh between Kolkata and many cities of Bangladesh were suspended in the year 2020 due to Corona epidemic.
Mithali Express will depart from New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal at 11.45 am and will reach Dhaka at 10.30 pm Bangladesh time. The train will stop for only 10 minutes for change of drivers at Haldibari, the last station on the Indian side and Chilahati, the first station on the Bangladesh side.