Maitree Express

Background

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. The Bangladesh war of Independence in 1971 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

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 current President of India and 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. 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.

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. 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. 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."

Protests and bombing plot

The inauguration of the train service evoked mixed public responses. 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. 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. Police blamed the group for planting three bombs, which were defused, on the route on April 13, a day before the launch.

Route

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 for immigration checking; one is Gede (Indian side) and the other is Dorshona (Bangladesh side). It takes around 10–11 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 Hardinge Bridge over the lower Ganges and the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge over the Jamuna River, both in Bangladesh.

Train Schedule

The train service is reliable and punctual, does not involve a lengthy ferry crossing and is cheaper than the Kolkata-Dhaka bus services. The terminal points are Dhaka Cantonment and Kolkata Stations respectively. whilst Kolkata is a true terminal stations, it is possible to continue by local train to Dhaka's main station Komolapur from Dhaka Cantonment. From Kolkata, the nearest metro station is Shyambazar–a distance of 1.4 km.

Diplomacy

The development of the Kolkata-Dhaka train service is akin to that of the Samjhauta Express (also meaning "Friendship" 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 said to be running at 50% occupancy. With increase in runs to six days per week, three times each direction this service has gained in popularity. Other challenges remain-terminal stations in both Kolkata & Dhaka being on the city outskirts. Reducing or improving the process of customs and immigration processing, which currently involves taking all luggage off the train and then reboarding after processing, twice in each journey, would possibly make the service more attractive. Better publicity in local media at both terminal cities also could help raise patronage leading to the train becoming a daily service.

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. While applying for a visa it is 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.

As of 18/06/2014, return tickets are available on a predefined number of seats, for up-to two days 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.

Historical India Bangladesh Rail links

The complete rail links between India & Bangladesh (BD) are as follows:

Western Frontier:

1. Darsana (BD)–Gede (India): Maitree and freight trains

2. Benapole (BD)–Petrapole (India): Freight only

3. Rohanpur (BD)–Singhabad (India): Freight

4. Birol (BD)–Radhikapur (India): Previously freight, currently discontinued after India converted to broad gauge from meter gauge.

Northern Frontier:

5. Chilahati (BD)–Haldibari (India): The rail tracks have been removed on BD side.

6. Burimari (BD)–Changrabandha (India): Also discontinued.

Eastern Frontier:

7. Shahbazpur (BD)–Mahishasan (India): A meter gauge line existed but was discontinued.

8. Akhaura (BD)–Agartala (India): A new line being is developed by IRCON, cost to be borne by India.