AGARTALA, Aug 18 � The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has finally placed a detailed project report pertaining to the proposed new inland water transport between Gomati and Howrah rivers with Bangladesh�s Meghna and Titas rivers.
Speaking to media at the Civil Secretariat here, Secretary of Transport Department Kishore Ambuly said that rivers would have navigation facilities for smooth movement of barges. He also informed that the North Eastern Council (NEC), had provided funds for preparing the DPR under the Centrally sponsored scheme for development of waterways in Northeastern India.
Ambuly said that the project report placed by RITES would be submitted to the Union Ministry of Shipping and Transport and other Ministries concerned to formally initiate the process to open new waterways between the two neighbours. The RITES had earlier this year conducted a preliminary feasibility study.
The Tripura Governmenmt had submitted a proposal to the Union Government for declaring Gomti river as a national waterway keeping in view the potential of linkage with the inland waterways of Bangladesh.
Indian and Bangladeshi waterways connect West Bengal and Assam and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes.
India and Bangladesh share 2,979 km of land border and 1,116 km of riverine boundary. The two neighbours share 54 rivers, including eight rivers flowing from Tripura. India has for long pressed for using Bangladeshi waterways and ports, especially for easy transport of Indian goods from Kolkata and other mainland cities to NE States through that country.
Oversized heavy turbines and other heavy machines for ONGC�s 726 MW Palatana power project in Gomati district, carried on massive 132-wheeled trucks, had recently reached the site from Haldia port in West Bengal after being transhipped through Bangladesh waterways, using Ashuganj port.
AGARTALA, Aug 18 � The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has finally placed a detailed project report pertaining to the proposed new inland water transport between Gomati and Howrah rivers with Bangladesh�s Meghna and Titas rivers.
Speaking to media at the Civil Secretariat here, Secretary of Transport Department Kishore Ambuly said that rivers would have navigation facilities for smooth movement of barges. He also informed that the North Eastern Council (NEC), had provided funds for preparing the DPR under the Centrally sponsored scheme for development of waterways in Northeastern India.
Ambuly said that the project report placed by RITES would be submitted to the Union Ministry of Shipping and Transport and other Ministries concerned to formally initiate the process to open new waterways between the two neighbours. The RITES had earlier this year conducted a preliminary feasibility study.
The Tripura Governmenmt had submitted a proposal to the Union Government for declaring Gomti river as a national waterway keeping in view the potential of linkage with the inland waterways of Bangladesh.
Indian and Bangladeshi waterways connect West Bengal and Assam and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes.
India and Bangladesh share 2,979 km of land border and 1,116 km of riverine boundary. The two neighbours share 54 rivers, including eight rivers flowing from Tripura. India has for long pressed for using Bangladeshi waterways and ports, especially for easy transport of Indian goods from Kolkata and other mainland cities to NE States through that country.
Oversized heavy turbines and other heavy machines for ONGC�s 726 MW Palatana power project in Gomati district, carried on massive 132-wheeled trucks, had recently reached the site from Haldia port in West Bengal after being transhipped through Bangladesh waterways, using Ashuganj port.
