Agartala, Sept 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has given a major gift to the people of Tripura ahead of Durga Puja to boost the state's rail connectivity.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha's proposal for direct train service connecting Tripura with Mumbai has been approved by the Ministry of Railways.

Dr. Saha on Friday hailed the announcement on the Agartala- Mumbai train connectivity and extended gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Railways.

"The direct train connectivity with Mumbai will largely benefit the people of our state," the Chief Minister commented on X.
Tripura is set to get the new express train service before the Durga Puja, Transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury said on Saturday.

The official announcement regarding the extension of Lokmanya Tilak (Mumbai)- Kamakhya (Guwahati) weekly express up to Agartala came on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the secretariat, the Transport minister said, the weekly train would leave from Agartala at 6 am on every Thursday and on return journey, the train would depart from Lokmanya Tilak station at 7.50 am on every Sunday.

The train would cover the journey in two days and 7 hours. It would have stoppage at seven stations between Agartala and Guwahati. The stations are- Ambassa, Dharmanagar, Badarpur, New Halflong, Lumding, Hojai and Chaparmukh.

Chowdhury also said, the Agartala- Akhaura rail service would commence very soon and the newly installed escalator in Agartala railway station would be inaugurated soon.

He said, 11 express trains are running from Agartala at present and three railway stations of Tripura- Dharmanagar, Kumarghat and Udaipur are being developed under Amrit Bharat Station scheme at an expenditure of Rs. 96.60 crore.