Landlocked Tripura has decided to construct a 150-metre bridge on river Feni at a cost of Rs 110 crore to connect the State with Chittagong port in Bangladesh. The power surplus state also hopes to export 100 mw of power to Bangladesh.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday said here at MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry that his government will take up the construction of the bridge project soon. "We are also taking care of the land and rehabilitation of the people, who would be dislocated for the project."
India and Bangladesh have already agreed to allow cargo movement through Chittagong sea port. The proposed bridge will connect southern Tripura border at Sabroom, just 72 km off Chittagong port, with Ramgarh town in Bangladesh. The four-lane bridge will also have related infrastructure like a four-lane approach road.
Sarkar indicated the construction work would start soon. This bridge would not only connect Tripura but also the whole of north-east region plagued by serious connectivity issues.
The Chief Minister said work on transmission line erection on both sides of the border has been progressing fast. "We would start export power to Bangladesh by March", he added.
Tripura Chief Minister also said telecom connectivity (through optical fibre cable) via Coxbazar in Bangladesh is expected to be commissioned in January.
He said Agartala airport expansion project was also being taking up shortly. "We have given 75 acres of land to the airport authority. Work for the project may start in March.
The railways have begun broad-gauging work on the line between Lumding and Agartala. "We expect that latest by May this work would be complete." The Chief Minister said. Preparation for rail link inside the State and till the Bangladesh border was also on the way. He hoped by middle of 2018 these linkages could be established.
The National Highway Authority has started two-lane work for the National Highway 44, the lifeline for the State. He indicated that State has suggested construction of a second highway to link the State.