The Dhaka-Kolkata direct passenger train service is expected to begin in August this year, a media report said in Dhaka on Monday.
After meetings between delegations of the two countries, Bangladeshi and Indian railway authorities were now negotiating the finer details ahead of the start of the service, the Daily Star reported quoting concerned officials.
Railway officials confirmed the report saying laying of broad-gauge tracks from Joydevpur to Kamalapur in Bangladesh is almost finished.
"The new broad gauge line up to Dhaka Cantonment from Joydevpur is complete. Right now trains from Sealdah railway station can directly come to the Cantonment station," Bangladesh Railway spokesman Shafiqul Alam Khan said.
But, he said, the authorities were yet to take a decision on whether the trains should commute between suburban Joydevpur of Bangladesh and Sealdah in West Bengal or between Dhaka Cantonment and Sealdah.
Railway officials said policy level details are being worked out now, including accommodating the immigration and custom departments, fixing the fare, the size of trains and the number of passengers.
According to a proposal, there will be three categories of fares of Rs 322 ($8), Rs 483 ($12) and Rs 805 ($20).
Bangladesh will keep 78 per cent of the revenue while India will get the rest, as the distance between Sealdah and the Bangladesh border is 120 kilometres while the length of the rail track in Bangladesh territory is 418 kilometres.
{{/usCountry}}Bangladesh will keep 78 per cent of the revenue while India will get the rest, as the distance between Sealdah and the Bangladesh border is 120 kilometres while the length of the rail track in Bangladesh territory is 418 kilometres.
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