Maligaon, August 01: The first goods train carrying stone chips from Damdim station of Alipurduar Division in NFR crossed to Chilahati station in Bangladesh through the reopenedHaldibari – Chilahati rail link on 01.08.2021 at 16:35 hrs.
The railway network of India and Bangladesh are mostly inherited from British Era Indian Railways. After partition in 1947, 7 rail links were operational between India and the then East Pakistan up to 1965.
Recently, there were 4 operational rail links between India and Bangladesh e.g. Petrapole Indi-Benapole Bangladesh, Gede India–Darshana Bangladesh, Singhabad India-Rohanpur Bangladesh, Radhikapur India–Birol Bangladesh. The Haldibari– Chilahati rail link made functional from 17.12.2020 is the 5th rail link between India and Bangladesh.
The Haldibari – Chilahati rail link was operational till 1965. This was part of the Broad Gauge main route from Kolkata to Siliguri during partition. Trains traveling to Assam and North Bengal continued to travel through the then East Pakistan territory even after partition. However, the war of 1965 effectively cut off all the railway links between India and the then East Pakistan.
In pursuance of the joint declaration in the Inter-Governmental Railway Meeting (IGRM) held in Delhi in May, 2015; Railway Board sanction for construction of a new BG line from Haldibari station to Bangladesh Border for connection with Chilahati Bangladesh [Length – 3.50 km] in 2016-17 in order to reopen this erstwhile rail link.
Indian Railways has restored the tracks up to international border from Haldibari station at a cost of Rs. 82.72 crores. Bangladesh Railways has also accordingly undertaken up-gradation and laying of missing tracks on their side from Chilahati station to international border. On Bangladesh side Chilahati – Parbatipur – Santahar – Darshana existing line is already in broad gauge.
Prime Minister of India Mr.Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Haldibari-Chilahatirail link on 17.12.2020 during the Prime Minsiter level virtual bilateral summit. However due to the Covid pandemic, regular train services could not be started in the section since then.
Haldibari – Chilahati route will provide a shorter route for transit of goods into Bangladesh from Assam, West Bengal, Nepal and Bhutan. This rail link will enhance rail network accessibility to the main ports, dry ports and land borders to support the growth in regional trade and to encourage economic and social development of the region. Economic activities of these South Asian countries will also be benefitted from this new rail link.
