NEW DELHI, August 29: An Inland Waterways protocol route is about to commence connecting India (Sonamura – dist. Sipahijala) and Bangladesh (Daudkandi – dist. Comilla) on September 5. The project to be launched in the presence of Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, is set to connect Tripura with Bangladesh via river Gomti.
The 90-km route that was included within the list of Indo-Bangla protocol (IBP) routes, on, 20 May, 2020, is predicted to spice up trade and establish relations between India, Bangladesh and Bhutan cutting down transportation cost and travel time. A trial is set to commence from September 2.
In a Facebook post, Deb had stated, “Historical moment for Tripura! trial run of the ship is to be conducted in the first week of September. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has permitted trial run of the voyage from Daudkandi (Comilla) to Sonamura on river Gomti.”
During the trial run 50 tonnes of cement would be transported in a barge from Dhaka to Sonamura. This would be the first time in history that any kind of goods would be reaching Tripura by ship. “I would like to thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Shipping Minister Shri Mansukh Mandavia Ji & Govt of Bangladesh for extending cooperation,” the Tripura CM said.
This was followed by another FB post mentioning that Sonamura “is all set to witness the historic moment! Sonamura floating jetty is ready to receive the first ship from Daudkandi Bangladesh. a new era will start in Tripura’s waterways connectivity.”
Ajit Kumar Singh, Director of Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), during his visit to the location while confirming the movement of cement in the trial run said Gomti being a seasonal river remaining operational only about 3-4 months a year, needed to be de-silted and cleaned on regular basis to keep the route open round the year.
The Inland Waterways protocol route signed on May 20, allows both the countries to ply on a chosen protocol route. Also, movement of shallow draft mechanized vessels have been allowed between Dhubri (India) and Chilmari (Bangladesh). This will help in export of Bhutanese cargo, stone chips and North East Cargo to Bangladesh. After the signing of this addendum the number of Indo-Bangla protocol has been increased from 8 to 10.
The inland water shipment is significant for India to transport food grains, agricultural products, fertilizers, containerized cargo and cement. The key export cargo from India to Bangladesh is fly ash.
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(Venkatesh Iyer)