Tripura, a beautiful state in northeastern India, has a growing railway network that connects it to major cities and neighboring countries. The railway system plays an important role in transporting passengers and goods, boosting the region’s economy. With improved infrastructure and increasing services, Tripura’s railway network is helping people travel easily and promoting trade with other states and countries.
An Overview of Tripura
Tripura is a northeastern state of India, covering 10,491 square kilometers with a population of 3.67 million. It shares borders with Assam, Mizoram and Bangladesh. The state has 8 districts and 23 sub-divisions, with Agartala as its capital and largest city. Tripura is home to 19 tribal communities and has a majority Bengali population. Its official language are Bengali, English and Kokborok.
Largest Station of Tripura
Agartala Railway Station is the largest railway station in Tripura, located 5.5 km from the capital city, Agartala. It is an important transportation hub, connecting Tripura to the rest of India. It was the second capital city in Northeast India (after Guwahati, Assam) to be linked to the country’s railway map. Agartala is also the first state capital of independent India to be connected by rail.
Location and Connectivity of Agartala Railway Station
Agartala Railway Station is located in West Tripura district. The station connects Tripura to major cities like Guwahati, Kolkata and New Delhi. In 2016, the railway line was upgraded from metre-gauge to broad-gauge, making travel faster and smoother. The station is also linked to Sabroom, Tripura’s southernmost point, since October 3, 2019.
History of the Station
The foundation stone of the 119 km Kumarghat-Agartala railway project was laid in 1956 by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. The project took 40 years to complete, finally connecting Agartala to the rail network. In 2016, the station was linked with the rest of India through broad-gauge tracks.
Construction and Infrastructure
The construction of the railway involved building three tunnels through the Longtharai Valley, Baramura and Atharamura Hills in Dhalai and West Tripura districts. The 1,962 metre Longtharai tunnel is the largest railway tunnel in eastern India. The station’s architecture resembles the Ujjayanta Palace, desgined by Nabarun Biswas of A B Consultants Private Limited, Kolkata.
Link with Bangladesh
Agartala Railway Station also connects to Bangladesh through the Akhaura-Agartala line. An agreement was signed on May 21, 2013, between the governments of India and Bangladesh. The total track length is 15.054 km, with 5 km in India and the rest in Bangladesh. The project, funded by India, is estimated to cost around Rs.271 crore.
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