The cross-border road corridor linking Tripura with eastern India through Bangladesh has reopened, with the Agartala–Kolkata bus service resuming operations via Dhaka after a year-long suspension. The revival is expected to restore passenger mobility, ease regional trade movement, and reinforce Tripura’s overland connectivity to mainland India through a shorter transit route. State transport authorities confirmed that a trial run was undertaken this week between Agartala and Kolkata through the Bangladeshi capital. The service had been halted amid political uncertainty in Bangladesh, which disrupted travel demand and complicated visa processes. Officials now indicate that improved administrative conditions and the continuation of the bilateral transport agreement have enabled operations to restart without requiring fresh approvals.
The Agartala–Kolkata bus service significantly reduces travel time compared to the longer domestic route through Assam and North Bengal. For Tripura’s residents and businesses, the corridor serves as a critical economic artery. The landlocked state depends heavily on multimodal and cross-border infrastructure to reduce logistics costs, improve market access, and strengthen trade resilience. Urban planners note that regional road connectivity plays a central role in integrating smaller state capitals such as Agartala into broader economic networks. By reopening this link, authorities are not only restoring passenger services but also signalling stability in cross-border urban exchanges. The corridor supports medical travel, small-scale trade, education-linked mobility, and family visits activities that sustain local economies on both sides of the border.
Transport officials indicated that the service will initially operate on a limited weekly schedule once the trial phase concludes. Visa issuance processes, which had slowed during the suspension, are also being streamlined to support passenger flow. Industry observers believe predictable visa systems are essential for maintaining steady ridership and ensuring commercial viability.From an urban development perspective, enhanced bus-based cross-border connectivity offers a lower-carbon alternative to short-haul aviation while supporting inclusive travel options for middle-income and migrant populations. Scheduled intercity buses remain among the most energy-efficient mass transit modes in the region, particularly when integrated with rail and last-mile services.
The resumption of the Agartala–Kolkata bus service also aligns with India’s Act East policy objectives, which emphasise stronger connectivity with neighbouring countries to unlock economic growth in the Northeast. Infrastructure-led diplomacy particularly transport corridors has become central to regional cooperation frameworks. For Tripura’s capital, the return of this route may gradually revitalise associated urban nodes, including bus terminals, logistics points, and hospitality clusters. As passenger confidence returns, sustained policy coordination between transport, immigration, and urban authorities will determine whether the corridor evolves beyond a restored service into a stable, long-term mobility asset.If managed efficiently, the reopening could reinforce Agartala’s position as a gateway city in eastern South Asia’s cross-border urban network.
