New train services from Agartala to Delhi, Kolkata this month

New train services from Agartala to Delhi and Kolkata will be introduced after May 20 this month, an official said in New Delhi on Thursday.

"The state government was informed by the railways authority that super fast trains from Agartala to Kolkata and Delhi would be introduced within this month after May 20," State Transport Secretary Samarjit Bhowmick told reporters in New Delhi.

Agartala found a place in the broad gauge railway map in March this year.

"Two major hurdles for introducing the super fast trains are maintenance facility of the trains and a recent landslide on Haflong-Badarpur railway track in Assam.

“Works are on to clear the debris on Haflong-Badarpur railway track and Northern railways were asked to provide maintenance facility to the trains to be stationed at Agartala railway station," he said.

Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu had also informed two members of Parliament from Tripura -- Jitendra Chowdhury and Sankar Prasad Dutta on Wednesday in Delhi that the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections in Assam and the ongoing Parliament session had come in the way of introducing new train service from Agartala, but the services would be launched after May 20.

Image: Labourers work at the installation site of a new railway track on the outskirts of Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura. Photograph: Reuters