(a) whether the Government has recently launched a new bus service connecting Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the response received thereto from both sides i.e. India and Bangladesh;
(c) whether it is proposed to run more such bus/ferry services in the neighbouring countries including Pakistan occupied Kashmir; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) & (b) Two new bus services on Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka and Kolkata – Agartala via Dhaka routes were flagged off on 6th June, 2015 during the Prime Minister’s visit to Bangladesh after the agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for the regulation of motor vehicle passenger traffic between the two countries for starting regular bus services on these routes were signed.
(c) & (d) The Transport Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) signed the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) for regulating and enabling passenger, personal and cargo vehicles cross border traffic in the four countries on 15th June, 2015 at Thimphu in Bhutan. This and other such sub-regional motor vehicles Agreements on the anvil, contain provisions enabling commencement of similar cross border bus services on reciprocal basis. At present, there is no fresh proposal to start bus services to Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
* * * * *