India halts ₹5,000-crore cross-border rail tasks amid Bangladesh unrest; new routes by way of Nepal, Bhutan eyed: Report

Citing political unrest in Bangladesh and security considerations for employees, India has halted a collection of cross-border railway tasks geared toward linking the seven northeastern states with the mainland by way of the neighbouring nation, a media report mentioned.

Almost ₹5,000 crore price of venture funding and building actions have been suspended, halting no less than three energetic tasks and survey work on 5 others, reported The Hindu Enterprise Line.

The railway tasks had been essential for linking northeastern states by way of Bangladesh’s railway community and had been geared toward easing dependence on the slim Siliguri Hall, which hyperlinks the area to mainland India.

The stalled railway tasks are Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Hyperlink and Khulabura-Sahabajpur rail line laying; Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line; and the Dhaka–Tongi–Joydebpur rail growth venture. 

The Akhaura–Agartala Cross-Border Rail Hyperlink venture was happening with India’s help of almost ₹400 crore prolonged to Bangladesh. It’s 12.24 km lengthy, with a 6.78 km dual-gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura. 

The Khulabura-Sahabajpur rail line, a part of the Akhaura–Agartala venture, was supposed to enhance connectivity to Assam.

The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line venture, being developed underneath the concessional Line of Credit score with a complete venture price of $388.92 million ( ₹3,300 crore), entails the development of roughly 65 km of broad-gauge rail route between Bangladesh’s Mongla Port and the present rail community in Khulna.

The Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebpur railway growth venture, due for completion in June 2027, has seen delayed execution of lower than 50 per cent until final 12 months, the Enterprise Line report mentioned. 

Different routes

New Delhi is exploring different routes by way of Bhutan and Nepal to bolster rail infrastructure in North India.

“ ₹3500 – 4000 crore connectivity plan by way of Bhutan and Nepal is being explored, however building work on the Indian sides is occurring as deliberate,” the report mentioned, citing sources.

Concurrently, New Delhi is exploring the potential for rail line doubling and quadrupling in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, key arteries feeding into the Siliguri Hall.