New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 1.9 km long ‘Maitri Setu’ between India and Bangladesh, a bridge built over the Feni river, via video-conferencing.
During the inauguration, PM Modi said, “The connectivity between Bangladesh and India will prove to be very important for the northeast region and for India and Bangladesh trade as well. This is a new trade corridor between India and Bangladesh.”
“Tripura, which was pushed back by the strike culture for many years, is now working for Ease of Doing Business. Where industries had come to the brink of closure, there is now space for new industries & investments,” said PM Narendra Modi.
‘Maitri Setu’, which spans 1.9 kilometers joining Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, has been built over the Feni river which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh.
The name of the bridge symbolizes growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The construction was taken up by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd at a project cost of Rs 133 crore, it added.
“The bridge is poised to herald a new chapter for trade and people to people movement between India and Bangladesh. With this inauguration, Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom,” the PMO said in a statement.
Furthermore, the inaugural event was also addressed by Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, where she congratulated both countries for the inauguration of the bridge.
“This is a historic moment as we are creating a new era in South Asia by providing connectivity to India. Political boundaries should not become physical barriers to trade,” Hasina said.
Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for setting up an integrated check post at Sabroom which will help in easing the movement of goods and passengers between India and Bangladesh.
-CHK
