Two Tripura rivers to be linked with Bangladesh's Meghna

Agartala: To create three waterways between landlocked Tripura and Bangladesh, two major rivers of the state would be linked with the river Meghna of the neighboring country, official sources said today.

The Ministry of Water Transport and Shipping has asked the state government to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to connect state's two major rivers- Howrah and Gomati with Meghna, state Transport Secretary Samarjit Bhowmik told reporters.

"Transport department has already engaged a consultancy agency to prepare a DPR for the project, which is likely to be available within a short period and then we would place the budget for the project", Bhowmick said.

Earlier, RITES had conducted a survey for the new waterways and submitted the report to the ministry suggesting dredging of the two rivers and a required fund of Rs 47 crore for developing three waterways, he added.

Meanwhile, another (DPR) for construction of a bridge on River Feni has been finalized to connect Sabroom, a subdivisional town in South Tripura district with Ramhar of Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and the government of India has sanctioned Rs 91 crore for the project.

The DPR for the 250 feet long bridge was handed over to the state department of Industries and Commerce, the nodal department for communication with Bangladesh, State PWD's Chief Engineer Sunil Bhowmik said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the neighbouring country on June 6 had laid the foundation stone for the bridge through video conferencing from Dhaka in presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

India will construct the bridge on the river Feni to get access to the Chittagong international sea port in Bangladesh and the neighbouring country has agreed to allow India to use the Chittagong port, about 75 km from Sabroom.

Tripura has 856 km long international border with Bangladesh which surrounds the state on three sides.