India-Bangladesh inland waterway route opened: Here’s what you need to know

As part of efforts to boost connectivity between the two countries, barge carrying 50 ton of cement reached Sonamura in Sepahijala district from Daundkandi in Bangladesh, on Saturday, Sep 5

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and Chairman of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Aditya Mishra were present at Sonamura on Saturday to welcome the barge.

Of the 90-km stretch of waterways, around 89.5-km is in Bangladesh.The route connects Tripura with the National Waterways of India through Bangladesh.

The boat-sized vessel with a consignment of cement set sail for Sonamura port in Sepahijala district of the northeastern state from Munshiganj on Thursday, Sep 4

According to Indian Express, River expert and Tripura University associate professor Nibedita Das Pan said, “The inland waterways project is new and promising. Dredging is of course a way to tackle the shallow riverbed but I am afraid it will take far more than dredging the actual project route. They might consider dredging till Maharani barrage, where the sedimentation issue starts.”

As Gomati is a seasonal river, the new international waterway can remain operational for three to four months during the monsoon.