India, B'desh to strengthen consulates to ease visa clearance

To improve visa clearance between India and Bangladesh, top officials of both countries have proposed to strengthen its existing consulate in Agartala even as the Ministry of External affairs has approved setting up of another Bangladesh consulate in Guwahati.
The decision in this regard was taken after transport officials of both countries reviewed the progress of the passenger bus-services, officials said today.
The meeting held here on May 4 discussed the need to improve visa clearance facilities so as to make the clearance faster.
For this, Bangladesh proposed to strengthen its existing consulate in Agartala. The Ministry of External Affairs has also approved setting up another Bangladesh consulate in Guwahati, an official said.

The meeting also discussed improving passenger amenities on both sides, besides other issues like rationalising fares and additional stoppage points along the route, he said.
Top officials from the Transport, Home and Foreign Affairs Ministries of both sides attended the meeting which was also attended by transport commissioners and representatives of Transport Corporations of Assam, West Bengal and Tripura.

The objective of the meeting was to take stock of the bus services plying on four routes between two countries and to bring in improvement wherever possible to facilitate smooth and comfortable movement of passengers.
The review meeting was the first of its kind since the earliest protocol was signed between the two countries in 1999 to start a bus service between Kolkata and Dhaka.

The next review meeting has been scheduled for the last week of June in Guwahati.
Bus services are currently being operated on four routes between India and Bangladesh in which three buses operate on the Kolkata-Agartala via Dhaka route.
The operation of passenger buses between the two countries is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance regional cooperation since both countries are signatories to the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement.