Cargo truck reaches Tripura from Kolkata via Dhaka

A cargo vehicle from West Bengal has reached Tripura via Bangladesh for the first time as part of Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) sub-regional initiative for seamless movement of goods.

The trial run was flagged off by West Bengal Transport Secretary Alapan Banerjee at Kolkata on Sunday.
 
The mini-truck carrying goods and a car reached Agartala on Tuesday via Bangladesh capital Dhaka.
 
The journey through Bangladesh has reduced the distance between the capitals of two Indian states by one-third from the existing 1550 km of travel, crisscrossing hilly terrains of Assam and Meghalaya, to 640 km.
 
Driver of the cargo truck Abhijit Gayen said the distance was reduced by around 1000 to 1100 km.
 
He added that roads throughout the stretch, except a small patch of 20 km in Brahmanbarhia, were in good condition.
 
The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement aims at ensuring uninterrupted movement of goods laden vehicles of the signatory countries through designated corridors.
 
Customs Superintendent from Kolkata MR Pyne accompanied the vehicles to work out “certain modalities”.
 
“It was a trial run following the motor vehicle agreement signed by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. Very soon we will formally start the operation. So I came along with the vehicle to work out the modalities,” he said.
 
General Secretary of Agartala Exporters–Importers Association Monish Biswas said apart from north-eastern states of India, Bangladesh would be the most benefitted due to this agreement.
 
The BBIN motor vehicles agreement was signed on Jun 15 in Bhutan's capital Thimphu.
 
The draft protocol, finalised at Dhaka in September, is expected to be signed by officials of the four countries at a conference to be held shortly in West Bengal's Siliguri.                          
India for long has been pressing for utilisation of Bangladeshi rail and road networks, waterways and ports to tranship goods from Kolkata and other major cities to north-eastern states.
 
Earlier in 2012, Bangladesh had allowed state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation to ferry heavy machinery, turbines and over-dimensional cargoes through Ashuganj port for the 726-MW Palatana mega power project in southern Tripura.
 
Bangladesh also allowed transhipment of food grains to Tripura through its territory.
 
The Indian government spent several millions of rupees to develop the Ashuganj port and related infrastructure.