0 Trains from (MBB)MURSHIDABAD to (DAKA)DHAKA

-Train No. 12861/12862Visakhapatnam – Kacheguda – Visakhapatnam Express Has Been Extended To Run Up To Mahbubnagar

-First Train To Directly Connect Mahbubnagar With Coastal Andhra Pradesh Region

 Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India will flag off Train No. 12862 Mahbubnagar – Visakhapatnam Express from Mahbubnagar Railway station o­n 20^th May, 2023 in the august presence of Shri V. Srinivas Goud, Hon’ble Minister for Excise, Prohibition, Sports & Youth Services and Archaeology, Govt. of Telangana; Shri M. Srinivas Reddy, Hon’ble MP, Mahbubnagar; Smt. Swarna Sudhakar Reddy, Hon’ble Chairperson, Zilla Parishad, Mahbubnagar; Shri K.C Narsimlu, Hon’ble Muncipal Chairman, Mahbubnagar, other Public representatives and Senior Railway Officials.

 Mahabubnagar is an important district headquarters in Southern Telangana Region and is well connected with Rail Network. Earlier, there was no direct connectivity from Mahbubnagar to the coastal Andhra Pradesh Region. To mitigate this issue, the Ministry of Railways has approved the extension of Train No. 12861/12862 Visakhapatnam – Kacheguda – Visakhapatnam Express up to Mahbubnagar with effect from 20^th May, 2023. The extended train will provide direct train facility for the people travelling from Mahbubnagar to major cities of Andhra Pradesh such as Rayanapadu (Vijayawada), Eluru, Rajahmundry, Annavaram, Visakhapatnam etc.

 The train has also been provided stoppages at Jadcherla, Shadnagar, Umdanagar Railway stations which will be beneficial for the people of this region. Further, the train has been inducted with LHB coaches providing comfortable travel experience with modern amenities and enhanced safety features. The timings and stoppages for the extended portion of Train No. 12861/12862 Visakhapatnam – Mahbubnagar – Visakhapatnam Express are as detailed below:

*Please note: There will be no change in existing timings between Visakhapatnam – Malkajgiri – Visakhapatnam

To further strengthen bilateral relationship, 20 Broad Gauge (BG) locomotives were virtually flagged off to Bangladesh in a handing over ceremony held today at Rail Bhavan New Delhi, by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways. From the Bangladesh end, Minister of Railway, Md. Nurul Islam Sujan also joined in virtually. The event was attended by Shri A.K.Lahoti, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, Board Members, senior officials of Railway Board and delegates of Bangladesh.

The handing over of these diesel locomotives, under grant assistance from the Government of India, fulfills an important commitment made during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to India, in October, 2019. In keeping with the requirements of Bangladesh Railway, the locomotives have been suitably modified by the Indian side. These locomotives will help handle the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh.

Speaking o­n this occasion, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “India’s relationship with Bangladesh is civilizational, cultural, social and economic. Prime Ministers of both the countries are playing proactive role to improve bilateral relationship across social, economic and political sectors. Indian Railways are also playing a vital role in improving and strengthening rail connectivity across the border and improving trade between both the countries. As of now, five BG connectivity are operational, namely Geda- Darsana, Benapol- Petrapol, Singhabad- Rohanpur, Radhikapur- Birol and Haldibari-Chilahati. Work o­n two more cross border rail connectivities, Akhaura-Agartala and Mahihasan-Shahbazpur are progressing well and are likely to be completed and commissioned shortly.”

Addressing the gathering virtually, Minister of Railway, Bangladesh Mr. Md. Nurul Islam Sujan said, “I express my gratitude to the Indian Government for their support. Previously in June 2020 Indian Government provided 10 locomotives to Bangladesh as grant. We express our heartfelt gratitude to India for providing broad gauge locomotives. The supply of locomotives will help to improve both goods and passenger trains. We hope that existing collaboration between two countries regarding Railways sector will increase day by day.”

To enhance people to people contact, presently three pairs of passenger trains between India and Bangladesh, namely, Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express, Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express and New Jalpaiguri- Dhaka Mitali Express are running.

Trade between both the countries via rail have seen consistent growth with interchange of close to 100 cargo trains per month and approximately 2.66 MT cargo was sent to Bangladesh in the last financial year. The export commodities are Stone, DOC, Foodgrains, China Clay, Gypsum, Maize, o­nion and other essential items, as and when required, from India. Since 2020 permission has been given to operate parcel container and NMG rakes which normally carry agricultural products, fabrics, finished goods, light commercial vehicles and tractors. A new traffic of geo-synthetic bags has just started and 3 Parcel trains have been sent from Gujarat.

In line with Indian commitment to improve Rail service in Bangladesh, 10 BG Diesel locomotives were handed over to Bangladesh o­n grant basis in July 2020. As reported by Bangladesh, these locomotives are performing well and contributing well in smooth movement rail traffic in Bangladesh.