"We are optimistic that Bangladesh will allow Agartala-Kolkata bus service and a rail link between Agartala and Akhaura," Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri told reporters in Agartala after a day-long visit yesterday .

She said the introduction of direct bus service and transportation of goods through Bangladeshi land and waterways have been taken up with Dhaka at the "appropriate" level.

The distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is about 350 km, which can be covered in 12 hours while the distance between the two Indian cities via the northeastern state of Assam is nearly 1700km and the journey takes about three days.

Under the existing Agartala-Dhaka and Dhaka-Kolkata bus services, it takes about 20 hours to reach Kolkata from Agartala.

Veena Sikri met Tripura chief secretary RK Mathur, Commissioner for Industries and Commerce Loka Ranjan and Director General of Police GM Srivastava and customs officials to discuss the border trade and bus service issues.