Agartala: The Agartala–Kolkata bus service via Dhaka will resume from February 24 after remaining suspended for several months due to political instability in Bangladesh, a senior Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) official said on Saturday.
The cross-border “Maitree Bus” service had been temporarily halted following unrest in Bangladesh and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after which an interim government assumed office. The developments had affected bilateral exchanges and transport connectivity between the two countries.
TRTC Vice-Chairman Samar Roy said the service would restart after a review of necessary preparations. “After a long gap, the Agartala–Kolkata Maitree Bus service via Dhaka is being resumed. A trial run was conducted today, and all arrangements required for restarting the service have been examined,” he said.
Roy added that the corporation was confident of resuming operations from Agartala on February 24.
According to TRTC officials, the bus will operate thrice a week from Agartala — on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays to Kolkata via Dhaka. The return service from Kolkata to Agartala will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Officials said the resumption of the service is expected to facilitate travel for passengers from both countries, particularly those travelling for medical treatment, education and family visits.
The Agartala–Kolkata bus service through Bangladesh is regarded as a crucial connectivity link between Tripura and eastern India, substantially reducing travel time and distance compared to the domestic road route.
Authorities said coordination with the agencies concerned in both countries has been completed to ensure smooth operations once the service recommences next week.
Chief Minister Manik Saha welcomed the development and expressed hope that bilateral engagement would strengthen further. Referring to the recent political changes in Bangladesh, he said he expected normalcy to return and ongoing development initiatives to gather pace. He also underlined the importance of cooperation between India and Bangladesh for mutual progress.