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Tripura-Kolkata Bus Service Resumes via Dhaka, Boosting India-Bangladesh Ties

The Royal Maitri international bus service between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka has resumed after a year-long suspension due to political turmoil in Bangladesh. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha welcomed the move as a positive step for bilateral ties, noting the end of uncertainty with Bangladesh's elected government. Officials state the service, operating under a 2001 bilateral agreement, began with a trial run and aims for a thrice-weekly schedule once stabilized. The resumption, coupled with the restart of visa issuance, is expected to significantly ease travel for business, medical, and personal purposes between the two nations.

Key Points: Agartala-Kolkata Bus Service Resumes via Dhaka After Year-Long Halt

  • Service resumed after year-long suspension
  • Political stability in Bangladesh enabled restart
  • Trial runs ongoing before 3x weekly schedule
  • Visa issuance for travelers has resumed
  • Enhances cross-border travel for business & medical needs
2 min read

Tripura CM Manik Saha welcomes resumption of Agartala-Kolkata Bus Service via Dhaka

Tripura CM welcomes the resumption of the Royal Maitri bus service connecting Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka, a key step in restoring India-Bangladesh connectivity.

"I welcome the move to resume Indo-Bangla bus service... This is a good sign in bilateral ties. - Chief Minister Manik Saha"

Agartala, February 22

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Saturday, welcomed the initiative to resume the Indo-Bangla bus service connecting Agartala with Kolkata via Dhaka, describing the move as a positive step in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.

The Royal Maitri international bus service had remained suspended for the past year due to political turmoil in the neighbouring country, which led to a sharp decline in passenger numbers and visa-related complications.

"I welcome the move to resume Indo-Bangla bus service connecting Agartala with Kolkata via Dhaka. The uncertainty gets over with the formation of an elected government in Bangladesh. This is a good sign in bilateral ties. We hope other issues will be addressed," the Chief Minister told ANI today.

A year after the suspension, authorities of the Royal Maitri international bus service brought a bus from Dhaka to the Krishnanagar bus depot in West Tripura. On Saturday morning, the bus departed for Kolkata via Dhaka, marking a significant step towards restoring cross-border connectivity.

According to Samir Roy, Vice Chairman of the Tripura Road Transport Corporation, the service was halted due to the political situation in Bangladesh, which resulted in an all-time low in passenger demand and visa-related challenges.

"Due to this, the number of passengers had fallen sharply, and visa problems prompted us to shut down the service. With the situation improving in Bangladesh, we want to resume bus service by next week," Roy said.

On the issue of official clearance, transport official Manoranjan Debnath stated that no fresh permission was required to restart operations, as the bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh signed in 2001 remains valid. He said the bus that departed from the Krishnanagar bus depot in Agartala on Saturday was part of a trial run, which will continue for the next two to three days. Once the system stabilises, the service is expected to operate three times a week.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Hasan Al Abdul Ulayee told ANI that visa issuance for travellers has resumed from Saturday, although a formal public notification is expected to be released on Monday.

Residents of Tripura have expressed happiness over the development, as a significant number of passengers regularly travel to Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh for business, medical, and personal purposes. The resumption of the bus service is expected to ease travel and further enhance people-to-people by connectivity between the two countries.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who has family in Tripura, this is a huge relief. The suspension caused so much inconvenience for medical trips and family visits. Glad to see diplomacy and connectivity winning. A strong relationship with Bangladesh is crucial for India's Act East policy.
R
Rohit P
Good step, but I hope the authorities have a better contingency plan this time. Suspending a crucial service for a whole year due to political issues next door shows a lack of foresight. What if there's another disruption? We need more resilient cross-border agreements.
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Priya S
My uncle uses this bus for his garment business. The visa clarity from Monday is the key part. Last year, the uncertainty was worse than the suspension itself. Hope the process is smooth and online now. Jai Bangla-India friendship! 🇮🇳🤝🇧🇩
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Vikram M
Connectivity is progress. This bus service is more than just transport; it's about cultural and economic ties. Hope they expand the frequency soon from three times a week. The Northeast's integration with the mainland via our friendly neighbour is a win-win.
M
Michael C
Positive development for regional stability. A functional elected government in Dhaka resolving this shows how interconnected South Asian economies are. Hope this paves the way for more such people-centric initiatives across borders.

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