Mitali Express train connecting India and Bangladesh was flagged off on June 1.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bangladesh railway minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan virtually flagged off the train from Railway Board, New Delhi. Lok Sabha MP Jayanta Roy and West Bengal MLA Sankar Ghosh flagged off the train from New Jalpaiguri station in presence of a large gathering.
Apart from boosting the rail connectivity between India and Bangladesh, this train service will provide impetus to socio-economic development between the two countries facilitating movement of goods and passengers across borders and supporting growth and regional trades.
The new train will provide the much-needed fillip to the tourism sector of India and Bangladesh, a statement from NF Railway said.
This train also offers reliable, affordable and comfortable mode of transport for passengers thus providing ease of accessibility to India & Bangladesh.
Train No 13132 New Jalpaiguri – Dhaka Cantonment Mitali Express will run two days a week leaving New Jalpaiguri at 11:45 am (IST) on every Sunday and Wednesday to reach Dhaka Cantonment at 10:30 pm (BST).
In return direction, Train No 13131 Dhaka Cantonment – New Jalpaiguri Mitali Express will also run two days a week on Monday and Thursday from June 2 leaving Dhaka Cantonment at 9:50 pm (BST) to reach New Jalpaiguri at 7:15 am (IST) on Tuesday and Friday.
Mitali Express will run with four AC 1st Class coaches (cabin seating/sleeper) and four AC chair cars coaches with two luggage-generator cars. There is capacity to accommodate total 456 passengers during journey from New Jalpaiguri. During return journey from Dhaka Cantt station total 408 passengers can travel.
The fare from New Jalpaiguri in AC 1st Class is USD 33 and in AC chair car the fare is USD 22. During return journey from Dhaka Cantt station the fare will be USD 44 for AC 1st Class and USD 22 for AC chair car. Taxes will be additional. “On board catering services will be made available in the train on demand; however, linen will not be provided to any passenger. The tickets for the international train are available at the overseas PRS counters of New Jalpaiguri and Kolkata Railway Station,” the statement added.
