Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated ‘Maitri Setu’ between India and Bangladesh through a video conference. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects in Tripura. The Governor and the Chief Minister of Tripura were present on the occasion while a video Message from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also played out during the event.
The friendship bridge (Maitri Setu) inaugurated today has been built over the Feni river which flows between Tripura State and Bangladesh. The 1.9 KM long bridge connects Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. The construction of the bridge, taken up by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, has been completed at a project cost of Rs 133 crore. With this inauguration, Tripura has become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 kms from Sabroom.
Addressing the event today, the Prime Minister said that Tripura is experiencing a clear difference between the 30 years of earlier governments and the ‘double engine’ government of the last three years. He said exports from Tripura in terms of volume have increased 5 times.
Tripura becomes the ‘Gateway of North East’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the entire region is being developed as a trade corridor between Northeast India and Bangladesh. He emphasized that the ‘Maitri Setu’ will improve the connectivity of south Assam, Mizoram and Manipur along with Tripura with Bangladesh and South-East Asia.
PM Modi said that the bridge will give an impetus to the economic opportunity in Bangladesh also. He said that the foundation stone of the bridge was laid during his visit to Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister said, “now people will not have to depend only on the road for any kind of supply to the North-East.” He said efforts are underway to connect the Chittagong port of Bangladesh with North-East through an alternative route via the river. He said the ICP in Sabroom will work as a full-fledged logistic hub with warehouses and container trans-shipment facilities.
Due to this bridge over the Feni River Agartala will become the nearest city to an international seaport in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the inauguration of several projects today are efforts to make Agartala a better city. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects in Tripura worth Rs 3,518 crore.
‘HIRA‘ development in Tripura: PM Modi
PM Modi cited the rapid work for the airport, sea-link for internet in Tripura, rail link and waterways in this regard. He talked of HIRA development i.e. Highways, i-ways, Railways and Airways for Tripura.
The Prime Minister touched upon the rich heritage of the state and said that renaming of the Agartala airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya is a mark of respect for his vision for the development of Tripura.
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