The Mayor of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC)  Dipak Majumder Friday launched the first-ever shuttle service from the Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICP) to Maharaja Bir Bikram (Agartala) airport for tourists coming from Bangladesh during the  celebration of 11th foundation day celebrations of Land Port Authority of India at ICP Agartala.

For the convenience of passengers coming from Bangladesh, the shuttle service from Akhaura Land Port to Agartala Airport has been launched.

The journey of Agartala-Akhaura, the first land port in the North-Eastern region and India's second land port with the neighboring country Bangladesh, began its journey on November 17th, 2013 last and on Friday it has completed 10 years and entered 11 years.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, a short ceremony was organized on Friday at Akhaura Land Port in presence of AMC Mayor, local MLA Surajit Dutta ,  Bangladesh Assistant High Commission at Agartala  Arif Mohammad and others.

With the help of shuttle services, the passengers of Bangladesh can travel to Agartala airport at a very low cost. Later, Mayor Deepak Mazumdar also inaugurated a blood donation camp, organized by the BSF.

While speaking, the Mayor expressed satisfaction those 10 years ago, 30 thousand people traveled from Bangladesh to India and from India to Bangladesh in a year, now about 40 thousand people travel in a month. He opined that so many people travel through this port because of the improved service.

“A large part of our air services depend on passengers from Bangladesh. About 50 percent of the passengers are from Bangladesh on every flight. As a result we are benefiting commercially and financially,” said Majumder. 

He added that India, especially Tripura, shares close relationship with Bangladesh and cited that the ancestors of most people of Tripura were from erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

 “Our Prime Minister has emphasized strengthening the relationship with Bangladesh. So, we are hopeful of making our relationship with Bangladesh stronger,” he said.

“The Modi government at the Center has been emphasizing on strengthening ties with Bangladesh ever since its establishment. As a result, it is desirable that our relationship with Bangladesh should be stronger. Over the past 10 years, various services have been introduced by the port to facilitate Bangladeshi passengers and to improve and strengthen the communication system between the two countries”, said Mayor.

With the increase in passenger traffic and import-export trade, there has been an improvement in the lives of people working in various sectors associated with the port. Passengers from Bangladesh use this land port every day for medical treatment in different parts of India. Bangladeshi citizens avail services of various hospitals in India through Agartala airport using this port at low cost, said Majumder.

He added that it is only a matter of time that the decision to beautify the land port and develop multi-purpose services and entertainment facilities including a cafeteria for passengers will be implemented.