Finance
Haldibari-Chilahati Rail Link Restoration of Haldibari-Chilahati rail link to boost trade and P2P connectivity between Bangladesh and India
Dhaka, August 2: India and Bangladesh have started regular operation of freight trains through the Haldibari - Chilahati Rail Route from August 1 (Sunday). Indian Railways dispatched the first freight train loaded with stones from Damdim Station of Northeast Frontier Railway to Bangladesh.
After the partition in 1947, seven rail links were operational between India and the then East Pakistan (up to 1965). Presently, there are four operational rail links between India and Bangladesh. They are - Petrapole (India) - Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India) – Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India)–Birol (Bangladesh). The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is one such route which was operational till 1965.
The leadership of both Bangladesh and India are committed to revive all the pre-1965 railway links between the two countries. Hence, the restoration work was undertaken by the railways of both the countries to revive this rail link.
After the restoration, this railway link between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh) was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of India Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the PM level virtual bilateral summit on December 17, 2020.
The Haldibari – Chilahati rail link is the fifth rail link between India and Bangladesh being made operational from August 1, 2021.
The commodities that can be exported from India to Bangladesh through this rail route include Stones and Boulders, Food Grain, Fresh Fruits, Chemical Fertilizer, Onion, Chilies, Garlic, Ginger, Fly Ash, Clay, Lime Stone, Wood & Timber etc. From Bangladesh to India all exportable commodities are permitted.
This rail link coming into operation will strengthen India-Bangladesh Rail Connectivity and bilateral trade. It will also enhance rail network accessibility to the main ports and dry ports to support the growth in regional trade and to encourage economic and social development of the region.
