‘Gateway To North-East’: PM Modi Inaugurates Maitri Setu Connecting Tripura To Chittagong Port In Bangladesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Bangla Maitri Bridge on Tuesday, connecting Sabroom in south Tripura to Ramgarh in Bangladesh.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) built the bridge at a cost of Rs 133 crores. PM Modi claimed that this bridge will strengthen India’s cordial relations with Bangladesh and enhance trade ties that will lead to further progress of northeastern India.

“The project will enhance people-to-people contact and open up scope for deeper economic and trade ties,” the PM said.

The central government’s official release states that Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway to Northeast’, having access to the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh. PM Modi mentioned that the entire region between the eastern and northeastern India along with Bangladesh is being developed as a trade corridor.

“I had promised HIRA-wala development to you (Tripura people). HIRA means Highways, I-ways, Railways and Airways. There has been a rapid and marked improvement in Tripura’s connectivity. All projects for which the foundation stone was laid today are part of HIRA. A new one, waterways, has been added to it,” PM Modi was quoted by the Indian Express.

In fact, the World Bank has stressed on seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh, even stating that it can improve the national incomes of both the countries by 8 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

The Washington-headquartered financial institution also mentioned that a free trade agreement between the neighbouring nations can shoot up India’s exports to Bangladesh by 126 per cent and improve the latter’s exports by a whopping 182 per cent.

The Maitri Setu is a hallmark of the developing ties between the two countries with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also set to visit Bangladesh to commemorate its 50 years of independence later this month.