AGARTALA, June 10 (TIWN): There is not much progress in 150-metre Feni river bridge project which was planned to begin since the year 2015, to connect Tripura directly with Chittagong Port with the estimated cost of Rs. 91 crores. Talking to TIWN, Dipak Das, PWD Chief Engineer said, “We sent the DPR long back to Transport Ministry in central and presently we are preparing to begin the land-acquisition for it. Once the fund is sanctioned the work will be started in full swing”, he added. Asking about the importance of the project he said, “It will directly connect state to neighboring Bangaldesh and of course then Tripura will be considered as the Gateway towards Southeast Asia, and with Export-Import business it will boost the economy of Tripura”. But it cannot be ignored that the land acquisition yet to begin in full fledged manner for the project and the beginning of construction work is a matter of far-way.Central Govt. however, recently announced that for overall North Eastern regions development, so it’s more important to finish the ongoing projects in schedule.As Tripura is progressing slowly from flyover construction to Municipal works, so the central govt. may be delaying the fund allocation in state.

Moreover, the NH-44 is in its worst condition under the PWD Dept. In that case it’s urgent to renovate the major parts of the road-way rather than to begin connectivity with rest of the part of Asia.

However, the bridge  to 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.

Modi Govt’s ‘Act-East’ policy utilized Tripura’s location, which was earlier considered as  an alienated Northeastern Part of India. Before Modi Govt. it was never imagined  that how such a location of a state can be utilized which is set in the last corner of the country.

Everyone is just eagerly waiting for the Feni river project to be completed when Tripura can connect directly with Chittagong port.

Bur apart from Feni river, many pending project works in state before the Assembly election 2018, as Flyover, Double-lane construction, National Highway renovation etc.