While the Bandhan Express connects Kolkata and Khulna twice a week, the Maitree Express connects Kolkata and Bangladesh's capital five times a week.
Digital Desk: Passenger train services between India and Bangladesh
resumed on Sunday after a gap of over two-year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic
with flagging off of the Bandhan Express from Kolkata station on the way to
Khulna in the neighbouring country, an Eastern Railway (ER) official said.
Moreover, the Maitree Express is also set to begin
service between Kolkata and Dhaka on Sunday, with the first journey from
Kolkata to the Bangladesh capital taking place on Monday morning, he said.
"With the setting off of Bandhan Express from
Kolkata station at 7:10 am, passenger rail services between India and
Bangladesh, which had been suspended for nearly two years due to the epidemic,
have resumed," ER spokeswoman Ekalavya Chakraborty said.
While the Bandhan Express connects Kolkata and Khulna
twice a week, the Maitree Express connects Kolkata and Bangladesh's capital
five times a week.
People on both sides of the border are pleased about the
restart of railway services, which are completely booked for the next few days,
according to Chakraborty. "People
prefer rail travel over other modes of transportation such as bus and air
because of the comfort and convenient time schedule," he said.
According to him, the trains have a seating capacity of
roughly 450 passengers and are available in air-conditioned chair car and
executive class categories.
Chakraborty stated that the opening of Mitali Express
between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka on June 1 would provide India-Bangladesh train
connectivity in West Bengal a boost.
It may be mentioned that the new service will also boost
tourism in northern West Bengal as many travellers from Bangladesh show a keen
interest in exploring the Darjeeling Hills and the forests and tea gardens of
Dooars in the foothills, he said.
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