India plans to launch Guwahati-Dhaka bus service

"To study and finalize the routes and start the bus services to Dhaka from Shillong and Guwahati, a joint technical survey/trial run is being organized on 10-11th December, 2014 from Guwahati to Dhaka. The trial run/route survey 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," read a government statement on Saturday.

The trial run will conclude 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 have been underway for the past several months and have gathered momentum.

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

The official Indian delegation for the trial run will be led by W. Blah, Superintending Engineer of 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 flag off the trial run is scheduled at 9.00 AM on Dec 10 from Guwahati.

The Bangladesh delegation consisting of 7 senior officials for the trial run will reach Guwahati on Dec 9 and proceed to Dhaka on  Dec 10 by bus along with the Indian delegation.