Tripura’s first international waterway transport terminal connecting Bangladesh launched
Feb 20, 2024
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the North-East Tripura’s first international Inland Waterway Transport Terminal connecting Bangladesh at Sonamura Srimantapur in South Tripura district. The union minister also inaugurated separate projects for Dibrugarh and Karimganj virtually.
The state tourism and transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury along with Transport Department Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma, Sonamura Nagar Panchayat Chairperson Sarada Chakraborty and others were present on the occasion.
In a video message in his social media handle, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said that this Inland Waterway Transport Terminal will accelerate trade and economic development between India and Bangladesh. It will strengthen the friendly relationship between the people of the two countries, he added.
“The way of import and export of goods between India and Bangladesh will be facilitated by this waterway. Not only the import-export of goods but also tourists will increase on waterways. Employment will also be created through water transport,” he said further.
The union minister in his address during the inauguration programme said, “As we strengthen waterways as major transport routes and connect ports of neighbouring countries, we also open opportunities for local produce to capture markets in South East Asia and BIMSTEC.”
Meanwhile, the state transport and tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the North-Eastern region is developing rapidly. He said, “North-Eastern region including Tripura is being given importance for the development of communication systems with various states of the country and abroad by road, air, rail and water.”
“The state is being taken on the path of development through the establishment of an advanced communication system,” he said, adding that there is no need to agitate now for the development of the state.