Cross-border mobility rebounds in style. The eagerly awaited Maitri bus linking Agartala and Kolkata through Bangladesh restarted Tuesday after 18 months idle. Kolkata’s first departure Monday navigated Dhaka smoothly to cheers in Tripura.
Agartala-Akhaura ICP hosted a high-profile welcome. Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, TRTC’s Samar Roy, and top officials feted the milestone.
‘A positive omen,’ Chowdhury beamed, tying the launch to Bangladesh’s fresh government. He stressed how such ties bolster culture, economy, and trust between neighbors.
Agartala-Dhaka service looms large, per Roy. 35-seater fleets launch tri-weekly from both cities, streamlining regional access.
History recounts pandemic halts, a fleeting 2022 comeback undone by accident and unrest in Bangladesh. 2024’s upheaval, including Hasina’s exit, froze operations anew.
Stabilizing conditions now greenlight the return. The route’s genius? Halving distance to 620 km from Guwahati’s 1,650 km slog.
As a premier trade nexus—eclipsed only by Petrapole—this ICP amplifies the service’s impact on commerce and connectivity. India’s Northeast stands to gain immensely from this friendship bridge.