South-Asian train service to cross North Bengal

16 Dec 2009 13:14 IST
RAJYA SABHA

At the third meeting of SAARC Inter-governmental Group on Transport held on July 24, 2009 at Colombo, India circulated a Concept Paper on running of a demonstration container train from Bangladesh to Pakistan via India and Nepal. The possible corridor for running the demonstration train mentioned in the Paper was Chittagong Port/Dhaka(Bangladesh)-Katihar(India)-Birgunj(Nepal)-Lahore(Pakistan). The meeting noted the proposal and the Member States were to consider this proposal and offer their comments within three months.

This position was approved in the second meeting of SAARC Transport Ministers held on the next day i.e. July 25 2009. All the Member States, including Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to evaluate the Concept Paper circulated by India. However, comments from the Member States have not been received. Any further decision on the proposal including extension to other points can be taken only after the Concept Paper is first discussed and agreed among the member countries.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Shri E. Ahamed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

AKS/HK/LK/TR