Peoeple of Sonamura are keenly waiting for arrival of September – a small vessel, in trial run will be arrive at Sonamura jetty in first week of Sepetember.
The trial run on the newly-approved protocol route will be conducted in the first week of September connecting Tripura with Bangladesh.
In the trial run, a vessel will carry 50 MT cement to Sonamura jetty and it will be the first ever consignment through waterways to Tripura. However, the vessel will return to Bangladesh empty.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has given permission for conducting the trial run of voyage up to Sonamura via river Gomati. The permission will remain valid from 02/09/2020 to 30/09/2020.
According to official sources, the vessel will sail off from Narayanganj, Bangladesh on September 2 next and expected to arrive in Srimantapur Jetty, Sonamura on September 5.
While sharing the development on his social media handle, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has conveyed his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of State for Shipping- Mansukh Mandavia and Bangladesh government for this major development amidst COVID19 pandemic.
There is a common hope among the people of Tripura that the waterways connectivity would definitely boost state’s economy and Tripura would emerge as the gateway of Northeast.
In a tweer, Deb said, “Historical moment for Tripura! Trial Run of Ship is to be conducted in first week of September between India & Bangladesh. Bangladesh authority has given permission for trial run of voyage from Daundkandi (Cumilla) to Sonamura via river Gomti. During trial run 50 MT cement will be transported in barge from Dhaka to Sonamura.This is for the first time any kind of goods will be reaching Tripura by ship I thank PM@narendramodiji, @shipmin_india Sri @mansukhmandviya ji & Govt of Bangladesh for extending kind cooperation.
Notably, With sincere efforts of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, the Sonamura- Daudkhandi stretch of Gumti River (93 km) was approved as India-Bangladesh Protocol Route on May 20 last. The landmark decision had come after the 2nd addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade was signed at Dhaka on that day.
