India- Bangla accord, Tripura gets its first waterways
Our Bureau
AGARTALA, May 20 2020: The segment on River Gomati between Sonamura and Daudkhandi has been designated as protocol route in new agreement signed by two countries at Dhaka Wednesday.
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had been arguing for opening of this 93km route to benefit trade between two countries. He ushered hope that the particular bilateral agreement would boost state’s economy and help the state to emerge as northeast India’s gateway.
Sonamura (Tripura) and Daudkhandi (Bangladesh) stretch became a designated trade route after the agreement was signed by India’s High Commissioner Riva Ganguly and Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Shipping Secretary of Bangladesh.
Under terms of waterways protocol, inland vessels of both countries can move on the route and anchor at each other’s port.
Indian transit cargo generally comprise of coal, fly-ash, POL and ODC for power projects in northeastern states. Fertilisers, cement, food grains, agricultural products make up containerized cargo.