India for 'demonstration train' through Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal

India has floated a concept paper among the Saarc countries to start a "demonstration container train" from Bangladesh to Pakistan via India and Nepal.

The possible corridor for running the train is from Chittagong Port in Bangladesh to Katihar in India, Birgunj in Nepal and to Lahore in Pakistan, minister of State for railways E Ahamed said in Rajya Sabha today.

In a written reply, he said the concept paper was floated at the third meeting of the Saarc Inter-Governmental Group on Transport on July 24 in Colombo.

Ahamed said that the member states agreed to evaluate the concept paper circulated by India, and offer comments within the next three months. But the comments have not been received yet.

He said any proposal for extension of the train to other points can be taken only after the concept paper is first discussed and agreed among the member countries.

At present, India operates one train each to Pakistan and Bangladesh for the benefit of the citizens on the either side of the border. While the train to Pakistan operates between Delhi and Lahore, the other to Bangladesh operates between Kolkata and Dhaka.