Maitree Express

The Maitree Express or Moitree Express is the name of the first modern international passenger train service connecting Bangladesh to the Indian state of West Bengal. The name Maitree Express means the Friendship Express, denoting the significance of the train service to the foreign relations between India and Bangladesh.[1] Train services between the two countries existed before the partition of India – the Maitree Express re-established this connection between the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka with Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, in 2008 after being closed for 43 years.[2] In 2017 a second service, the Bandhan Express, was inaugurated connecting Kolkata with the Bangladeshi city of Khulna, recreating the previous Barisal Express route.[3][4]

Inaugural of Maitree Express train of the Bangladesh Railway on April 14, 2008, at Dhaka Cantonment.

Background

Kolkata Station, India

The Partition of India in 1947 disrupted rail links in the province of Bengal, which was divided into the Indian state of West Bengal (পশ্চিমবঙ্গ) and the Pakistani province of East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan in 1956). During British rule over the undivided land, regular over-night trains connected Kolkata, Goalanda, Dhaka and Narayanganj. In addition pre-partition, Darjeeling Mail connecting Kolkata (Sealdah Station) with Siliguri ran through what became East Pakistan via Gede-Darshana and Chilahati-Haldibari. Three train services from Sealdah—East Bengal Mail to Parbatipur Junction via Gede-Darshana, East Bengal Express to Goalundo Ghat via Gede-Darshana, and the Barisal Express to Khulna via Benapole-Petrapole—continued operation between the two countries until 1965, when the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani Conflict of 1965 led to the closure of all passenger train links.[2] The [Bangladesh Liberation War]] resulted in the independence of East Pakistan as the nation-state of Bangladesh. The Maitree Express follows the same route as the first two trains above via Gede-Darshana.

Revival

The Maitri Express

In 2001, the two national governments agreed upon the railway train scheme during bilateral talks. The train service concept got a major boost during the visit of the then Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, to Dhaka in February 2007. On July 8, 2007, the first train ran from Kolkata to Dhaka in a test run, carrying Indian government officials who were to meet their Bangladeshi counterparts to finalise train schedules.[5] In response to Indian security demands, a "box-fencing" system was to be erected on either side on the no-man's land between the two countries.[6] The inauguration of the train service was held on the occasion of the Bengali New Year (Bengali: পয়লা বৈশাখ) April 14, 2008.[7]

Kolkata Station, where the train departs.

2008 inauguration

On April 14, 2008, on the occasion of the Bengali New Year, the train was re-launched with fanfare; the flag-off ceremony for the first train leaving Kolkata from the Kolkata railway station in Chitpur was attended by dignitaries such as the Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, the Governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Liquat Ali Chowdhury. The Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee officially flagged-off the inaugural train from Kolkata, bound for Dhaka.[2][6] Another train departed at the same time carrying passengers from Dhaka to Kolkata. But the 360-seater Calcutta-Dhaka Friendship Express on its inaugural run was carrying barely 65 passengers, including journalists and politicians. Indian Railways officials state that the train service was launched hurriedly, and that when information would spread there would be a greater response and passenger numbers.[1] An official statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, "The agreement will strengthen bilateral relations and provide an alternative mode of passenger transport."[6]

Protests and bombing plot

The inauguration of the train service evoked mixed public responses.[1] Thousands of people gathered along the train route from Kolkata up to the border crossing point in Gede to cheer the inaugural train. However, a group representing Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, the Nikhil Banga Nagarik Sangha (All Bengal Citizens Committee) protested the launching of the train service, citing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, possible terrorist infiltration into India and demanding the rehabilitation of Bangladeshi Hindu refugees.[8][9] Police reports stated that 87 people (including 11 women) had been arrested for blocking the train by squatting on the tracks and refusing to move.[1][8][9] Police blamed the group for planting three bombs, which were defused, on the route on April 13, a day before the launch.[1][9]

Maitree Express Route/ Operations

Maitree Express
 km
0 Kolkata
 114 Gede
 India and Bangladesh border
 130 Darshana
 375 Dhaka Cantt.

The Maitree Express is the only train which runs between Kolkata and Dhaka. It runs six days a week from each side. The train travels around 375 kilometers to reach Dhaka from Kolkata. There are two stops immigration checks that are only carried out in Kolkata and Dhaka, nowhere is it carried out any more; one is Gede (Indian side) and the other is Dorshona (Bangladesh side). This change was effected in Nov'17 thus reducing travel time by eliminating border checks.

It takes around 9 hours to cover the entire stretch. Since the Bangladesh side is non-electrified, the entire stretch is covered by broad-gauge diesel locomotives. There is a change of crew and locos at Dorshona in Bangladesh. There are two major river crossings–the 100 year old Hardinge Bridge over the Padma River and the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge over the Jamuna River, both in Bangladesh. Since Poila Boishak 2017 (April 15, 2017) all coaches have been changed to AC LHB coaches thus enhancing the travel experience.

Train schedule

Regular train departures are as follows:[10]

RouteDayTrain No.Rake
Dhaka to Kolkata Friday3107BR
Saturday3110IR
Sunday3107BR
Wednesday3110IR
Kolkata to Dhaka Saturday3108BR
Monday3108BR
Tuesday3109IR
Friday3109IR

The train service is reliable and punctual, does not involve a lengthy ferry crossing/border checks and is cheaper & safer than the Kolkata-Dhaka AC bus services. Terminal points are Dhaka Cantonment and Kolkata Stations respectively. While Kolkata is a true terminal station, it is possible to continue by local train onwards to Dhaka's main station Komolapur from Dhaka Cantonment. From Kolkata, the nearest metro station is Shyambazar–a distance of 1.2 km. There is a public bus terminal right outside Kolkata Railway Station with connectivity to various parts of city.

Diplomacy

The development of the Kolkata-Dhaka train service is akin to that of the Samjhauta Express (meaning "Understanding" or "Accord" Express), which connects the Indian capital Delhi to Lahore in Pakistan. Both train services were opened to revive rail links between the countries that were disrupted by the partition of India in 1947, and both have been used as symbols of goodwill and cooperation between India and Bangladesh in the case of the Maitree Express, and India and Pakistan in the case of the Samjhauta Express.

Challenges

Earlier the Maitree Express was earlier (till 11) said to be running at 50% occupancy. With increase in runs to six days per week, four times each direction this service has gained in popularity. Other challenges remain-terminal stations in both Kolkata & Dhaka being on the city outskirts. Better publicity in local media at both terminal cities also could help raise patronage leading to the train becoming a daily service. In 2018 patronage has increased and average occupancy is 90%.

Booking

Unlike most of the trains, online booking through the IRCTC website is not available for this train. Tickets are only available in local currency at the booking counters mentioned below- visa & passport mandatory. While applying for a visa it was earlier essential to specify the port of entry as "By rail-Gede" (for an Indian visa) or "By rail-Darshana"(for a Bangladeshi visa). Tickets will be issued only after issue of the visa, and passports must be shown while booking. In case all passengers are not present, an authorisation is required while booking tickets. With eVisa started on both sides, mentioning specific port & mode of transport are no longer required.

As of 18/06/2014, return tickets are available on a predefined number of seats, for up-to two weeks before date of journey excluding journey date. The return tickets have to be validated, by going to the station 2 hrs before the departure of the train. The return fare includes only the base fare, and all other taxes and service charges have to be paid while validation of the ticket. This is applicable for return journeys form both Dhaka as well as Kolkata.

Tickets are available in Dhaka from the Kamalapur Main Reservation Counter only. In Kolkata tickets may be purchased from the International Ticket Booking Counter at Fairlie Place, Dalhousie Square, and also at the Kolkata station on the day of arrival of train from Dhaka.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dhaka-Calcutta train link resumes". BBC News. BBC. April 14, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kolkata-Dhaka Moitree Express flagged off". The Times of India. Times Internet Limited. April 14, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Maitree Express-II chugged across India, Bangladesh border amid cheers, applause". Indo-Asian News Service. Firstpost. April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Sheikh Hasina visit: Maitree Express to be made fully AC, new passenger service to be announced". Press Trust of India. The Indian Express. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ Sudworth, John (July 8, 2007). "First India-Bangladesh train link". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 "Kolkata-Dhaka train service to resume on Bengali New Year". The Times of India. Times Internet Limited. April 12, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  7. ↑ "A Report from Dhaka to Kolkata on the first operation day". BBC News, watching available by Windows Media Player. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Bhaumik, Subir (April 9, 2008). "Excitement mounts over train link". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 "Moitree Express resumes journey after brief halt". The Times of India. Times Internet Limited. April 14, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  10. ↑ Bangladesh Railway – Moitree Express
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