Trial run of container train from city to B'desh Kolkata

A container train today left for Bangladesh from the Majherhat station here in a trial run which is likely to soon turn into a regular service to meet the growing demands for faster and safer transportation of goods between India and its neighbour.

The container train, which adds to the existing goods and passenger services between the two countries, will meet the long-standing demands of exporters, Eastern Railway general manager Harindra Rao said at the ceremonial flag-off.

Rao hoped a regular container service would soon start between the two countries after the completion of formalities.

Container Corporation of India (Concor) chairman and managing director Kalyan Rama said there was a demand for exporting items such as food grains, steel and cement.

The first container train to Bangladesh consists of 30 wagons, carrying 60 containers of soya bean extract.

It will travel a distance of 301km from Majerhat-Naihati-Ranaghat-Gede in India to Darsana-Ishurdi-Bangabandhu West in Bangladesh.

Bangabandhu West in Bangladesh is 117km from Dhaka but closer to industrial hubs around the capital, an ER official said.

"The need for a container service between these two countries has acutely been felt by exporters as such a service has certain benefits, including substantial time saving, safe transit, cost effectiveness and a single window solution," Rao said.

It will also make trade safer and significantly organised in comparison to capacity constraints of the sea and land routes, he said adding that the container service would also have a wider impact on bilateral trade.

At present a lot of goods are transported by road through international crossing points between the two countries at various places such as Petrapole-Benapole, Hili and Changrabandha.