Trial run of Guwahati-Dhaka bus on Dec 10

India is planning to introduce regular passenger bus services to Dhaka from Guwahati in Assam via Shillong in Meghalaya.

To study and finalise the routes and start the Guwahati-Dhaka bus services, a joint technical trial run will be organised on Dec 10, from Guwahati to Dhaka.

The trial run will be carried out jointly by delegations from India and Bangladesh by way of a dry run of the service to assess route conditions and other technical parameters.

The exercise will end at Dhaka on Dec 12, and delegations are expected to submit the report on the details and feasibility of starting of the regular bus services.

This will be in addition to two passenger bus services to Dhaka already operating from Kolkata in West Bengal and Agartala in Tripura. Negotiations with Bangladesh for starting the bus services from Guwahati and Shillong had been underway for the past several months and gathered momentum.

The proposed bus service covering approximately 500 kms starting from Guwahati will be taking the Shillong-Dawki (Meghalaya) and Tamabil (Bangladesh)-Sylhet-Dhaka route.

The official Indian delegation for the trial run will be led by W Blah, Superintending Engineer of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. The delegation will also have representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs and External Affairs apart from the state governments of Assam and Meghalaya.

The trial run is scheduled to be flagged off at 9am on Dec 10 from Guwahati.

The Bangladesh delegation consisting of seven senior officials for the trial run will reach Guwahati on Dec 9.