B'desh to consider increasing Maitree Express frequency

Bangladesh has agreed to examine the possibility of increasing the frequency of Maitree Express, connecting Kolkata and Dhaka, to four times from the existing three times a week. 

At a meeting between officials of the Indian Railways and Bangladesh Railways, both agreed to start transportation by rail of petroleum products from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam to Parbatipur in Bangladesh through the existing interchange points at <g data-gr-id="22">Rohanpur</g> and Singhabad. 

As regards the need of increasing the frequency of Maitree Express to four times, it was agreed that Bangladesh Railway would conduct a due diligence exercise and revert to Indian Railways in due course, said a senior Railway Ministry official. 

Indian Railways also expressed its readiness to convert Maitree Express into a fully air-conditioned service. 

It was also agreed in the meeting that both sides would further pursue the initiative to shift Customs and Immigration checks to Kolkata and Dhaka. 

In response to the popular demand and need for introduction of a weekly passenger service between Khulna and Kolkata, both sides agreed to expeditiously evaluate the feasibility of initially operating this once a week service via the longer Gede-Darsana route with an Indian Railways' <g data-gr-id="25">rake</g> and review arrangements after issues relating to conduct of Customs and Immigration checks at Benapole/Petrapol or at Kolkata/Dhaka get settled.