A high-level delegation comprising officials of Foreign Ministry and Surface Transport Ministry will arrive in Agartala on July 13 on a two-day visit to have a look at the available infrastructure for plying international bus services. The next meeting will be held in Dhaka after the study is made and an MoU will be signed before the service commences.

"The road leading to Akhaura from TRTC bus terminus has already been made double-lane for the purpose and civic amenities will be upgraded soon before the commencement of the proposed bus service," Mr. Kar informed. The proposal for starting Dhaka-Agartala bus service has been in place for the last three years and the prospects brightened after the success of the Calcutta-Dhaka and Delhi-Lahore bus services.

It is learnt, both the governments are keen to start more such services in the region from Guwahati and Shillong if the proposed service becomes successful. Earlier on June 13, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a visiting 30-member delegation of Assam Branch of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association led by Speaker Ganesh Kutum that her country is keen to start bus services with major cities in the North-East. Recently, the number of buses in the Calcutta-Dhaka route has been increased owing to the regular rush of passengers.