A six-member delegation from Kolkata led by GK Mohanty is now in Dhaka to examine the technical and official procedures to launch the passenger train service that will initially start from Joydevpur in Gazipur and end at Shialdah in Kolkata, according to sources. The trains will run on broad gauge tracks.

The Indian delegation discussed the matter with high officials of Bangladesh Railways and visited the proposed locations from where the journey would commence and end.

As per the decision, one train from each side would cross the border six days a week. Both the trains would have the capacity for carrying 700 passengers.

Earlier, the caretaker government agreed to introduce direct passenger service between the two big cities of the next-door neighbours. The communications ministry has been asked to make the preparations by June this year, the sources said.

A high-powered team of the ministry of communications recently visited Darsana Rail Station in Kushtia and Bangladesh border points for facilitating the service. The proposed passenger train would enter Bangladesh territory through Darsana border point.

The team, led by Additional Secretary ATKM Ismail, examined the customs and immigration facilities at the border and would submit a report to the government on the findings soon.

"The main objective of my visit was to see how quickly we can provide the customs and immigration services to the passengers," Ismail told The Daily Star yesterday.

He said the government would try to start the journey from Dhaka Cantonment Station and provide the custom and immigration facilities there.

The Bangladesh Railways had already established broad gauge rail lines up to the cantonment station, sources said.

"Hopefully, we would be able to complete the preparations by June this year," another high official of the ministry of communications said. However, the actual date of official launching of the service would be decided following further discussions between the two governments, he said.

The trains would have the facilities for passengers to travel in different classes. The price of the tickets would be fixed on the basis of class, sources said.