Railways, which play a major role in boosting commercial and people-to-people ties between India and Bangladesh, have received further impetus recently. In a significant development on September 10, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the commencement of works for the Agartala-Akhaura rail project through video conferencing.
In September 2018, India and Bangladesh also decided to revamp the Chilahati-Haldibari rail connectivity which would facilitate plying of freight and passenger trains from Bangladesh to Darjeeling via Siliguri. Earlier, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s momentous visit to New Delhi on April 7-10, 2017 two rail links were opened. Currently, the two neighboring nations have been working closely to improve railway connectivity between them.