Maitri Express II will run between

The correct answer is Kolkata - Khulna.

Key Points

• Maitri Express II is a passenger train service connecting Kolkata in India and Khulna in Bangladesh.
• The service was launched to strengthen bilateral ties and improve connectivity between India and Bangladesh.
• It was inaugurated on November 16, 2017, as a part of the ongoing initiatives to enhance cultural and economic exchanges between the two nations.
• The train operates on the Petrapole-Benapole border route, which is a significant trade and transit point between the two countries.
• It serves as the second cross-border train service after the Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express, which was the first train to connect India and Bangladesh after partition.

Additional Information

• Maitree Express:
  • The Maitree Express is a passenger train service that connects Kolkata and Dhaka, launched in 2008.
  • It was the first train to establish rail connectivity between India and Bangladesh since the partition in 1947.
  • The service operates through the Gede-Darshana border.
• India-Bangladesh Connectivity:
  • The governments of India and Bangladesh have been working on multiple cross-border projects to enhance connectivity, including rail, road, and waterways.
  • Other notable rail services include the Bandhan Express (Kolkata-Khulna) and the Mitali Express (New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka).
• Petrapole-Benapole Border:
  • This is the largest land port between India and Bangladesh, located in West Bengal on the Indian side and Jessore District on the Bangladeshi side.
  • It handles a significant volume of passenger and cargo traffic between the two countries.
• Economic Impact:
  • Rail connectivity has significantly boosted trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between India and Bangladesh.
  • It has also facilitated the movement of goods and reduced transportation costs for businesses on both sides of the border.