Desk Report:

Almost three years after its inauguration, India-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge -Maitri Setu over River Feni in Sabroom of South Tripura, the access point of Northeastern states to Chittagong seaport is set to be operational in February.

Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) Chairman Aditya Mishra disclosed the matter at Agartala on Wednesday.

Mishra was accompanied by LPAI Secretary Vivek Burman, LPAI member Sanjeev Gupta, and Inspector General of BSF Tripura Piyush Patel visited Sabroom on Tuesday and reviewed the progress of ongoing work of Sabroom Integrated Check Post (ICP) and other development activities to facilitate the trade and commerce using Maitri Setu.

“The project under our watch is nearing completion. We are making all possible efforts to get this port inaugurated by next month. This port will facilitate the movement of goods and passengers between the two countries and boost the economy of the region,” Mishra mentioned.

About 1.9-kilometer-long Maitri Setu linking Sabroom (India) and Chittagong Port (Bangladesh) at a distance of approximately 80 kilometers was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, in March 2021 but it has not yet been operational due to absence of land ICP and poor road connectivity in Bangladesh side.

Mishra said Maitri Setu has ushered in new avenues for trade and communication between Southeast Asian countries and Northeast India and it is very important for enhancing trade and passenger movement between India and Bangladesh. Besides cargo and transshipments, Sabroom ICP will facilitate passenger movement from both countries.

During the visit of LPAI officials, a delegation from Bangladesh led by Director Ramgarh Port Sarwar Alam, CO Lt. Col. Syed Imam Hossain, UNO Ramgarh Mamta Afrin, AC Land Ramgarh Manas Chandra Das, and traffic officials of Bangladesh joined and assured full cooperation and expedite the process. Source: The Times of India