Tripura Transport Minister urges Centre to introduce inland waterway transport in Sonamura

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By  Firstdespatch Desk   Jul 03, 2024

Agartala, Jul 3 (FD) Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has urged the Centre to introduce inland waterway transport between neighbouring Bangladesh and the state.

In a letter to Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday, Chowdhury sought that linkage of Gomati River in Tripura with Meghna River system in Bangladesh be set up through the Sonamura-Daudkandi protocol route.

"Initiative may be taken for linking Sonamura-Daudkandi waterway to ports in Bangladesh such as Ashuganj, Mongla and Chittagong... further connecting with important Indian rivers such Ganga, Brahmaputra, Barak and ultimately to connect Haldia port in West Bengal through sea routes and Sittwe port of Kaladan project in Myanmar," he stated in the letter.

Sources in the state Transport department are of the view that that the cost of transporting goods between India and Bangladesh will come down if the Sonamura-Daukandi protocol route is operationalised.

He also requested the Centre to approve the proposal to purchase six to ten passenger vessels to boost tourism and ease crossing of Gomati River by commuters.

Chowdhury pointed out that purchase of a cruise ship and six passenger vessels would boost tourism in the vast Dumbur Lake in the state. FD JK