Agartala, India (BBN)-The Tripura government approached the Union ministry of external affairs again to press for access to Bangladesh's Ashuganj port in order to transport essential commodities to the state. Officials on Friday said the state government had initiated the move after the railways announced suspension of train services to Agartala because of gauge-conversion work, repots The Times of India.
"From October, railway connectivity between Agartala and the rest of the country through Lumding will be suspended as the metre gauge track will be converted to broad gauge. Hence, we need immediate access to Ashuganj port," officials stated.
The temporary disruption in railway connectivity will put immense pressure on NH-44, which connects Assam and Agartala, making inward movement of essential commodities difficult.
Chief secretary S K Panda held a review meeting on Thursday with transport secretary Kishore Ambuly, revenue secretary Swapan Saha and senior officials of the North East Frontier Railway (NFR) to determine an alternative arrangement for the transportation of essential commodities.
BBN/ANS/AD/21Apr14-10:40pm (BST)