Given the country’s geostrategic location in the Northeast, emphasis must be placed on connectivity initiatives with Bangladesh
Published Date – Sat 13 May 23 at 12:30pm
by Samara Ashrat
Hyderabad: The people of Tripura and Bangladesh have shared their hardships and successes since the dawn of civilization. An 856 km long porous border covers 85% of the Tripura-Bangladesh border, linking the two countries. Due to Tripura’s geo-strategic location in northeast India, connectivity initiatives with Bangladesh must be valued and pursued.
Agartala-Akahura Railway Project
One of the most famous connection projects between India and Bangladesh is the Agartala-Akahura International Railway. Akhaura (Bangladesh) served as a rail link to Agartala (Tripura) before Bangladesh’s independence. In 2013, India and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reopen the rail link.
About 88% of the Agartala-Akhaula International Rail Linkage Project is complete and the remaining work is expected to be completed within the next five to six months. An international immigration post will be located at Nischintapur (West Bengal) on the India-Bangladesh border, on the 15 km railway line linking Akhaura.
Completion of the project will reduce the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka from 31 hours to 10 hours. When completed, it will travel 5.46 km from Nischintapur to Agartala Railway Station and 10.6 km from Ganga Sagar, Bangladesh to the same point. With the completion of the Agartala-Akhaura railway line, the scope of business contacts will be expanded.
At Nischintapur, which serves as the Tripura junction of the Agartala-Akhaura train route, India is also planning to build an integrated checkpoint and cargo handling facility. This train link will shorten the distance between Agartala and Kolkata as it will use Dhaka instead of Guwahati as a hub.
The current 31-hour journey from Agartala to Kolkata will take only 10 hours as it will only travel 550 km instead of 1,600 km. India and Bangladesh currently have four active train lines between West Bengal and West Bengal: Petrapole-Benapole, Gede-Darshana, Radhikapur-Biral and Singhabad-Rohanpur. The last two also affect how Nepalese transit traffic is used. Both lines, 150 km from Mizoram, as well as the line from Agartala will benefit from the current line.
other initiatives
Apart from the Agartala-Akhaura railway line, Tripura has several other international connectivity projects linking Bangladesh, such as the Indo-Bangla Maitri bridge in South Tripura and the inland waterway transport project in Sepahijala district. At Sabroom in Tripura, an additional Integrated Checkpoint (ICP) is being constructed together with Bangladesh. It is expected that upon completion of all projects, Tripura will have access to Bangladesh’s Chittagong and Mongla ports, creating new opportunities for trade and commerce.
There are currently many infrastructure projects linking Tripura and Bangladesh. The opening of Maitri Setu across the Phini River is one of the important initiatives between Tripura and Bangladesh. If the Maitri Bridge connects Ramgarh in Bangladesh and Sabroom in India, Tripura will become the gateway to Southeast Asia. The bridge is only 74 kilometers away from the port of Chittagong.
The completion of the Agartala-Akhaula railway line and the Feni Bridge linking the Sabroom of Tripura to Chittagong, Bangladesh will transform Tripura from a “landlocked” country into a well-connected one. By building highways linking Thailand, Myanmar and India, Tripura will be able to strengthen its ties and relationships.
airport boost
Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Tripura state will become the third international airport in the north-east of the landlocked region when a new terminal is completed this year. Once the airport becomes operational, flights will operate between Agartala and Dhaka and other locations such as Chittagong and Sylhet. To enhance connectivity between northeastern regions of Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Prane Verma recently expressed interest in investing in the construction of a new airport there. Traveling by air will enhance connectivity between India and ASEAN countries, as well as between Bangladesh, the Indian subcontinent and Tripura.
solar energy storage
In addition, Tripura will build the country’s first solar energy storage facility for the northeast of the region. Plans are being drawn up to export non-polluting, eco-friendly electricity from this energy storage system to Bangladesh, in addition to meeting the country’s needs. This was what Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said at a press conference on April 1. The state government initially selected the Sabroom community in the Southern District because the area was being developed as a special economic zone. Excess power can be exported to Bangladesh by meeting the needs of the region.
Tripura may be a trusted and valuable partner of Bangladesh in its own interests. Possesses significant cultural affinity, which will undoubtedly enhance social and academic interaction with Bangladesh. It is in the interest of both countries to maintain Tripura’s leadership in India-Bangladesh relations. Following these moves, Tripura’s personal desire to establish business ties with Bangladesh will be strengthened. A new public and goods transport route will be established and Tripura will gain a significant presence in trade and commerce. Job opportunities will also be created for the unemployed.