AGARTALA, Aug 22 � Keeping in mind of the future need, Tripura Government has decided to construct a four-lane bridge over the river Feni in Sabroom subdivision, official sources said here on Wednesday.
Not only the 15-long meter bridge over the river Feni, the Government has also planned to construct four-lane approach roads for both sides to ensure better traffic system.
The decision has been taken at a high level video project cum meeting on the proposed bridge held at Civil Secretariat here Tuesday.
While Chief Minister Manik Sarkar presided over the meeting, Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury, Chief Secretary SK Panda, Principal Secretary LK Gupta and officials of IL&FS were also present.
Officials of IL&FS conducted video project in which they showed technical aspect, the place (Anandapara), location of Sabroom LCS and approach road for the bridge.
It was decided in the meeting that the bridge connecting Ramgarh (Bangladesh) and Sabroom will be four-lane. Even the approach roads will also be four-lane keeping in mind of its future requirement. Besides, footpath will have 2 meters on both sides of the approach roads. An amount of Rs 73 crore will be earmarked for constructing the bridge.
Tripura has been demanding for a bridge over the river Feni for long time. Of late, a decision to construct a bridge over the river Feni was taken at the highest political level of both countries.
If the bridge is constructed, not only Tripura the entire NE region will be beneficial by way of using Chittagong Port in Bangladesh because it is only 72 km far from Sabroom town.
Meanwhile, if everything goes in right direction, the Sabroom LCS will be functional by next month. As per the plan drawn by the higher ups, initially the bilateral trade will begin through Dashimighat after long 20 years wait.
Deputy Indian High Commissioner Somnath Ghosh is scheduled to visit Ramgarh (Bangladesh) shortly to inspect the facilities available at Ramgarh LCS. There after, Ghosh will visit the place where a bridge connecting two sides (Ramgarh and Sabroom). The visit of Deputy Indian High Commissioner assumes significance as the bilateral trade will resume next month.
Not only traders, people from both sides want the suspended bilateral trade to resume trough Sabroom-Ramgarh LCSs at the earliest. Sources from across the border side, necessary facilities have been created at Ramgarh LCS. More so, some businessmen have already got licenses to resume their business with Sabroom.
It may be mentioned thatduring a visit to Dhaka in January 2010, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar took up the matter with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that they wanted to build a bridge over the river Feni as the business community of the Indian north-eastern region wanted to use the Chittagong seaport.
Sheikh Hasina had agreed to the proposal but made it clear that India would bear all expenses for construction of the bridge, the sources said.
