AGARTALA, May 10 (TIWN): Once the River Feni over bridge construction is completed it will develop the trade bonding between Tripura and Bangladesh. The construction of bridge over River Feni would boost the connectivity between two countries, India and Bangladesh.The construction of the proposed bridge on Feni River to connect Tripura with Bangladesh will begin from September or October this year. Sources of South district administration said that administrative authority has started the works of land acquisition for the approach road to the bridge on April 15 and the work is to be completed rapidly. The Central Government will provide Rs. 125 crore for construction of the bridge, ‘Maitri Setu’ on the Feni River. The length of the bridge will be 412 Meter and width of it will be 15 Meter. Transportation via Bangladesh is much easier, as road connectivity is a major issue for the mountainous north-eastern states which share boundaries with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

Construction of Waterway for importing goods from Bangladesh through River Feni over bridge awaits sanction of funds of Rs.91.44 crore from the union commerce ministry for proceeding with the work.

Although the detailed project report is ready for Feni Bridge at Sabroom in southern Tripura but work can proceed after getting Rs.91.44 crore from the union commerce ministry.

The preliminary work, including making Detailed Project Report for the construction of 150-metre bridge on river Feni at a cost of Rs. 110 crore to connect the land locked State with Chittagong port in Bangladesh is ready and the work will begin as soon as soon as the centre sanction money in to the project.

After completion, the bridge, located north of the Chittagong international sea port, would provide a significant road link to India's north-eastern states and facilitate greater trade and exchanges between the two countries. 

The Tripura government has been asking the central government to take all possible steps to ensure access to Bangladeshi ports to ferry men and material to and fro mountainous north-eastern states and other parts of India via Bangladesh.

During Modi's Dhaka visit, India and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding promising that Bangladesh would allow use of Chittagong sea port and Mongla river port for the movement of goods to and from India and Mongla ports might be used by waterways, rail, road or multi-modal transport.