DHAKA:  The passenger train service between Khulna and Kolkata will kick off on November 16 in a bid to ease communication between Bangladesh and India.

However, passengers have to clear customs and immigration formalities in Chitpur of Kolkata and Khulna, two terminals for the train.

Sources said it will take only five hours to reach Kolkata from Khulna as the distance is around 185 kilometers.

Schedules have been arranged initially as Kolkata to Khulna from 07:30am and Khulna to Kolkata from 01:30pm. 

Fare has been proposed Tk850 for a Chair coach and Tk950 for a Cabin seat. 

Preferring anonymity, a higher official of Bangladesh Railway (BR) told Banglanews that some higher railway officials of Bangladesh and India will fix the fare charter in a meeting on October 24-25 in New Delhi. 

A 3-member delegation will attend the meeting for Bangladesh, said the official.

Earlier, related decisions were made in a meeting held on September 13-15 participated by the railway officials from both the countries at New Delhi Rail Bhaban, s/he said.

The train service on Khulna-Kolkata route was earlier scheduled to launch on three occasions which was later postponed.

BDST: 1116 HRS, OCT 17, 2017
SI/SMS