Agartala, Feb 24 (NationPress) The eagerly awaited Maitree international bus service, which connects Agartala with Kolkata through the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, has officially resumed operations after a prolonged 18-month break.

The inaugural bus from Kolkata set off on Monday, passing through Dhaka, and arrived in Agartala on Tuesday.

Upon their arrival at the Agartala (India) - Akhaura (Bangladesh) Integrated Check Post (ICP), passengers received a warm reception.

Present to welcome them were Tripura's Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Acting Chairman of the Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) Samar Roy, along with senior officials from the ICP.

In his statements to the media, the Minister regarded the resumption of the Agartala-Kolkata bus service via Dhaka as a significant and joyous occasion, coinciding with the recent establishment of a new government in Bangladesh.

He highlighted that this initiative is likely to enhance bilateral relations, especially in cultural and economic aspects.

Minister Chowdhury emphasized that friendship between India and Bangladesh is crucial for mutual development, stating that these bus services symbolize a robust foundation of trust and cooperation.

With a focus on peace, stability, and growth, a bus traveling from Kolkata to Agartala via Dhaka arrived at the Akhaura check post on Tuesday, marking the official restart of services following an 18-month suspension.

TRTC Acting Chairman Samar Roy mentioned that the Agartala-Dhaka bus service is also expected to recommence soon. He noted that the state-owned 35-seater TRTC bus will operate from Agartala three days each week, while another bus will depart from Kolkata on the same schedule. Both services will run via Dhaka, linking Tripura and West Bengal. The Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata and Agartala-Dhaka bus services were initially paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and partially resumed in June 2022.

However, operations were once again halted after a local travel agency's bus was involved in an accident in Bangladesh and subsequently faced a mob attack.

Following incidents of violence in Bangladesh during June and July of last year, especially after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024, bus operators were hesitant to resume services.

A TRTC official stated that with the newly elected government in Bangladesh now taking charge and reports suggesting an improved law-and-order situation, authorities have made the decision to restart the cross-border bus services.

The Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata and Agartala-Dhaka routes are considered essential connectivity links, facilitating quicker and smoother travel between the northeastern state and eastern India via Bangladeshi territory.

Sources indicate that the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission (AHC) in Agartala has also started granting visas in specific cases. Previously, the AHC had announced that all visa and consular services would be suspended from December 23, 2025, due to "unavoidable circumstances" until further notice.

Tripura, sharing an 856-km-long border with Bangladesh and surrounded by the neighboring country on three sides, experiences regular cross-border movement.

A significant number of individuals frequently travel between the two nations for trade, tourism, education, and personal reasons.

The Agartala-Akhaura ICP is also the second-largest trading post between India and Bangladesh, following the Petrapole-Benapole ICP in West Bengal.

Traveling from India's mountainous northeastern region to the rest of the country via Bangladesh is considerably faster, more efficient, and hassle-free compared to the traditional narrow Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the "Chicken's Neck."

While the distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Guwahati is approximately 1,650 km, the route through Bangladesh shortens the journey to just 620 km.