The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) & Government of Tripura to develop and maintain the Inland Water Terminal (IWT) at Srimantapur near Sonamura in Tripura. The singing in ceremony was attended by the Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Dev and the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal in presence of the other officials.
The Union Minister also announced establishment of a 50 bedded AYUSH hospital in Agartala to give a boost to the traditional medicinal practices in the region. This will give a long way to provide patient care to the people of the region and help them enrich their quality of life.
A HDPE pontoon floating terminal was established at Srimantapur near Sonamura in July, 2020. The MoU will help maintain & develop this terminal by LPAI and Tripura Govt. The LPAI will operate and manage the facilities for cross border movement of passengers and EXIM cargo. The floating jetty would be integrated into the overall operation of the ICP. It is to be noted that a cargo trial movement from newly declared port of Call route from Daudkandi in Bangladesh to Sonamura in Tripura, India. The Hydrographic survey between Srimantapur and Udaipur was also completed by IWAI in January, 2022.
Another proposal titled ‘Development of Inland Water Transport In River Gumti Tripura with a view to settling up linkage with Meghna river system in Bangladesh at a revised cost of Rs 24.83 crores was approved by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways under 100% funded Centrally Sanctioned Scheme (CSS). It was also proposed to carry out a Hydrographic survey in Feni river by IWAI in March, 2022. The tender for construction of permanent jetty at Sonamura is already under process.
Speaking at the meeting, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “We remain committed to the development of Northeast by empowering our rich river system. The inland water system must be optimally developed to reap the full benefit of an efficient, economical and sustainable mode of transport for both cargo and people. These steps announced today will not only greatly help Tripura realise its economic potential but will also tremendously help other adjoining states like Assam, Mizoram and Manipur. The vision of PM Narendra Modi is to energise Northeast through its river ways and give the much needed ‘Gati’ to prosperity & development.”