A trial run of the Kolkata-Agartala direct bus service via Dhaka will be held on June 1. (Representational Image)
A trial run of the Kolkata-Agartala direct bus service via Dhaka will be held on June 1, Tripura transport minister Manik Dey today said.
"A bus will start from Kolkata on June 1, stay in Bangladesh on that day and arrive at Agartala International Bus Terminus of Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) at about 11 am next day through the Akhaura Check Post," Mr Dey told reporters here.
"Higher officials of the state transport department will receive the guests at the Akhaura Check Post and the bus will return from Agartala on June 3 in the morning and reach Kolkata on the same day as it takes around 14 to 16 hours including formalities at the immigration centers," he said.
Senior officials of West Bengal Transport department led by Principal Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay would arrive by the bus, Dey said adding, a discussion to start the Agartala-Kolkata direct bus service was first held five years back between delegates from the Central Government, Tripura Government and West Bengal Government.
"We might arrange similar trial runs in future and passengers travelling by the direct bus service will need passport and visa," Mr Dey said.
Tripura would purchase one Volvo bus for the Agartala-Kolkata direct bus service, which would reduce the distance between Agartala and Kolkata by 513 km, he said.
"It is expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Bangladesh on June 6, will sign the agreement of Agartala-Kolkata direct bus service with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina," Mr Dey added.