Inland Waterway Terminal in Tripura opens new chapter for trade, growth: CM
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal virtually inaugurated the Inland Water Transport Terminal at Srimantapur under the Sonamura sub-division in Tripura on Tuesday.
On this occasion, a program was organized at Srimantapur in which Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Secretary of the Transport Department Uttam Kumar Chakma, Sonamura Nagar Panchayat Chairperson Sarda Chakraborty and others were present.
In his video message, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said that the inauguration of the Inland Water Transport Terminal will boost trade and economic development between India and Bangladesh.
It will strengthen the friendly relations between the people of the two countries.
The Chief Minister further said that the way for import and export of goods between India and Bangladesh will be smooth through waterways. Not only will the import and export of goods increase through waterways, but the movement of tourists will also increase. Water transport will also create employment opportunities.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said under the ‘Viksit Bharat Prakalp’, the Rs 6.91 crore project of Inland Waterways Authority of India, aims at improving the waterways connectivity in the state and facilitating trade between Tripura, other Northeastern states and neighbouring Bangladesh.
The central government has taken several steps to increase bilateral maritime trade with neighbouring Bangladesh.
Earlier, goods for trade between the two countries were shipped from Colombo, Singapore or Klang Ports.
But with the inauguration of the Inland Water Transport Terminal at Srimantapur, Sonamura, Indian goods for the Northeastern region can go through Chittagong Port.
Also, Kolkata freighters can use multiple modes of transportation to reach Chittagong, Mongla or the Northeast region.
For this, the Bangladesh government has allowed the use of few routes including; Chittagong/Mongla to Agartala (Tripura), Chittagong/Mongla to Dwaki (Meghalaya), Chittagong/Mongla to Sutarkandi (Assam) and Chittagong /Mongla to Srimantapur (Tripura).
Addressing the inaugural program, Minister for Transport and Tourism Sushanta Chowdhury said, “Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Act-East policy of the government, the Northeastern region including Tripura has seen drastic changes in recent years”.
“The transportation system of Tripura connecting the rest of the country and abroad has developed by leaps and bounds. Not only roadways, but airways, railways and now waterways have seen immense development”, he said.
Chowdhury added that the people of Tripura now do not have to agitate for development.
“The state government is working to create ‘Ek Tripura Srestha Tripura’ with the double engine government in action”, said the Tourism Minister.