Inland waterways trade with Bangladesh in 3 months says Tripura CM

Agartala: A week after signing the 2nd Addendum protocol on inland water transit and trade between India and Bangladesh, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday said that within three months ships would start ferrying goods through inland waterways between Sonamura- Daudkhandi 93 km stretch of Gumti river.

Deb said this during his visit to Sepahijala district as part of his inspection tour of quarantine centres set up across the state.

During his visit to Sonamura subdivision, Deb visited the proposed site where the port will come up. The work for commissioning the inland waterways connectivity project is already on.

Speaking with reporters, Deb said both India and Bangladesh signed the agreement and have decided to start the trade amidst the pandemic. I hope that ships will start from the temporary jetty which is being set up in 3 to 4 months time”, Deb said.

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He also said that for now small ships and boats can move easily since it is monsoon season and the river has sufficient water for the movement through the temporary jetty.

“Although full-fledged operation would require a permanent jetty, but for now, a temporary jetty would be set up to handle the traffic. Work for the permanent jetty would continue as it requires 3 years time to complete”, Deb added.

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The 2nd addendum to the protocol on inland water transit and trade was signed in Dhaka on May 21 by Riva Ganguly Das, high commissioner of India in Bangladesh, and Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, secretary to the ministry of shipping, Bangladesh.

“The Gomati river would be dredged to make way for small ships and boats from Sonamura to Ashuganj port in Bangladesh, which is just 60 km away from here. The testing would be done in this monsoon season itself”, Deb said.

He also said that on the opening of this port, small ships capable of carrying 50 tons of goods would start moving through this route from the temporary jetty.