The first trial run of a cargo
vehicle on the Kolkata-Agartala via Dhaka route was flagged
off here on Sunday.
It will reduce the distance
between Kolkata and Agartala nearly by two-third. This is a
part of the four-nation agreement among Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India and Nepal (BBIN) for cross-border movement of people
and goods. Known as the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement for the
Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular
Traffic, it was signed in Thimpu on June 15.
Unlike the traditional land
route in which one has to cover a distance of 1,550 km via
Siliguri in north Bengal to reach Agartala in Tripura from
Kolkata, in the alternative route the distance would be
reduced to 640 km as cargo vehicles will be transiting
through Bangladesh.
“The benefits of the project are
obvious as with the shortening of distance, transport cost
will also come down,” said Vijay Chhibber, Secretary, Union
Ministry of Road and Highways, who flagged off the trial
run.
The alternative route is likely
to make the movement of goods between the north- eastern
State and rest of the country more convenient. As Tripura
and north-eastern States such as Meghalaya and Mizoram share
a long border with Bangladesh, cross-border movement of
goods via Dhaka will be more cost effective and less time
consuming.
“Tripura is the entry point to
the north-east. In fact Manipur, Mizoram and the southern
part of Assam will be connected with the rest of the country
by this alternative route,” said Mr. Chhibber.
He, however, avoided a direct
reply as to what suddenly led Bangladesh, which for several
years did not allow the transit of Indian goods though its
territory to Tripura, to agree to the proposal. “That is a
very loaded question. I don’t want to get into why it did
not happen earlier. Our government is reaching out
proactively to all our neighbours and have received positive
response from them, including Bangladesh,” said Mr. Chhibber.
Passenger movement between
Kolkata and Dhaka have already been started.
Experts are of the opinion that
financial benefits of the alternative route will not be
limited to the reduction in transport expenditure. “Beyond
cost saving, it will also increase our connectivity with our
eastern neighbours as well as the Association of South East
Asian Nations, Prithviraj Nath, policy analyst and centre
head, Consumer Unity and Trust Society, Kolkata, told The
Hindu.
This news can
also be viewed at:
www.thehindu.com
|