Agartala, Feb 21: After remaining suspended for more than a year, the international bus service linking Agartala, Dhaka and Kolkata is set to restart, restoring an important transport corridor between Tripura, Bangladesh and West Bengal.
The cross-border service, jointly operated by the Tripura Road Transport Corporation and Royal Maitree, had been halted following the suspension of visa services and a sharp decline in passenger movement. The disruption left many prospective travellers unable to undertake journeys between the three cities.
Speaking to the media, passenger guide Sipon Sarkar said the service had remained inactive as visas were not being issued, preventing several passengers from travelling. He confirmed that a bus was brought in for a test run recently after more than a year of suspension. According to him, the immediate objective is to gradually resume regular operations and inform the public that the route is being revived.
Bus driver Fayeg Ahmood expressed hope that full operations would soon return. He described the current trip as a trial run, noting that there were no passengers onboard at present but voicing confidence that demand would recover in due course.
He further stated that officials from the Bangladesh High Commission have indicated that visa processing for students, tourists and other travellers is expected to resume shortly, a crucial step for the restoration of cross-border connectivity. Ahmood added that around 25 staff members are on standby to ensure that once regular services recommence, operations can begin smoothly without delay.
