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October 03, 2007 10:51 IST
The much-awaited Kolkata-Dhaka passenger train service is caught on a row between India and Bangladesh over wire-mesh.
Though coaches, tracks and staff required to run the train are ready, the vexed issue of fencing the no-man's land has stalled the inaugural run till date.
While Indian authorities insist on fencing off the no-man's land at Indo-Bangla border for custom and immigration clearance, Bangladesh, it is learnt, has reservation about it.
A six-member high-powered delegation from Bangladesh Railway are coming to India next week to sort out the issue, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
"Though we are fully ready with our preparation to run the passenger train to Dhaka, the issue of fencing the area between Gede on Indian side and Darshana in Bangladesh has not been resolved yet," he said.
Tentatively named as Maitree Express, the train will have 14 coaches, including AC coaches and pantry car and cover about 400 km distance between Chitpur (Kolkata) to Joydevpur (Dhaka) in 14 hours. "It is a non-stop train and though the journey will take only eight hours, the Custom and immigration clearance at both sides will take six hours.
"However, we are trying to reduce the custom clearance time to four hours," said the official.
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