India is eyeing a better push for cargo motion alongside the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route, which incorporates use of coastal waters, elevated entry and use of Mongla and Chattogram ports within the neighbouring nation, and enhancing connectivity by way of its inland waterways routes.
The pitch now’s in direction of inclusion of extra ports in Bangladesh, together with Safardighi and Payra.
The transfer goals at strengthening connectivity with the North-East, whereas enhancing worldwide ties with our neighbours.
Whereas Safardighi is being checked out as a further ‘Port of Name’ beneath the protocol route, there’s a push in direction of inclusion of Payra sea port within the ‘Settlement on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports’ (ACMP). The latter is anticipated to assist motion of products between the 2 international locations, and Sabroom (in Tripura) by way of Ramgarh. Points like quicker berthing of vessels and barges utilizing ACMP commerce routes was additionally deliberated upon.
Talks are on to grant Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district of Odisha – and considered one of South Asia’s largest all-weather ports having a deep draft sufficient to accommodate super-cape measurement vessels – related “Port of Name” standing, an official within the Ministry of Ports, Delivery and Waterways (MoPSW) mentioned.
Strengthening Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route
Cargo motion alongside the India-Bangladesh route has seen a 170 per cent soar over a nine-year interval, senior officers within the Ministry of Ports, Delivery and Waterways, instructed businessline.
From 2 million tonnes each year (MMTPA) in FY15, it went as much as round 3 MMTPA in FY20 (pre-Covid), whereas present information with the Ministry pegs cargo motion at 5.4 MMTPA.
Underneath the present transit and commerce protocol settlement between India and Bangladesh, inland vessels of 1 nation can transit via specified routes of the opposite nation. The transfer is seen as a significant drive in direction of in direction of enhancing connectivity within the North-East.
The protocol routes at the moment operational are Kolkata-Pandu-Kolkata; Kolkata-Karimganj-Kolkata; Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi; and the Pandu-Karimganj-Pandu waterways.
Underneath the present protocol, there are 12 ports of name between the 2 international locations, together with Kolkata, Haldia, Karimganj, Pandu, Shilghat and Dhubri in India and Narayanganj, Khulna, Mongla, Sirajganj, Ashuganj and Pangaon in Bangladesh. The newly added ports of name are Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha in India, and Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad in Bangladesh.
The 2 prolonged ports of name beneath dialogue are Tribeni beneath Kolkata and Karimganj beneath Badarpur port of name in India; and Ghorashal beneath Narayanganj and Muktarpur beneath Pangaon port of name in Bangladesh.
Underneath the protocol route, 50:50 cargo sharing by Indian and Bangladeshi vessels is permitted each for transit and inter-country commerce.
At a current Ministerial stage assembly, it was additionally agreed to type a technical crew to check inclusion of the Chandpur-Chittagong stretch within the India-Bangladesh Protocol route, a MoPSW official instructed businessline.
It has additionally been agreed that Bangladesh will submit a proposal for growth of extra routes, particularly protocol routes 5 & 6, that cowl Maia close to Farakka in India to Aricha in Bangladesh, connecting India’s NW1 to NW2 (rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra), and 9 & 10 – which cowl Sonamura- Daudkhandi stretch of Gumti River (93 km) and is aimed toward enhancing connectivity to Tripura – on 80:20 value sharing foundation.
“This will likely be examined by the Indian facet to contemplate for implementation,” the official mentioned.
Work is underway alongside the Sirajganj-Daikhowa and Ashuganj-Zakiganj routes which can be being developed at a price of Rs 305.84 crore on an an 80 (India) – 20 (Bangladesh) sharing foundation.
The event of those stretches is anticipated to supply seamless navigation to NER by way of the IBP route. The contracts for dredging on the 2 stretches to take care of the requisite depth for a interval of seven years (from 2019 to 2026) is underway.
Different Deliberations
As per a MoPSW assertion, three high-level talks have been held between the 2 international locations at Dhaka. These embrace Delivery Secretary Degree Talks (SSLT), a gathering of the Standing Committee beneath Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Commerce, and an Inter-Governmental Committee assembly on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for to-and-fro motion of products.
Bangladesh agreed to make use of the Pangaon container terminal within the interimfor transshipment of containers till the Ashuganj Inland Container Terminal is absolutely operational.
A location for a drop-in centre for Bangladesh can be recognized close to Kolkata within the subsequent 4 months.
“A crew from Bangladesh will look into methods to determine the technical feasibility and industrial viability of third-party EXIM commerce for the advantage of each international locations,” the official mentioned.
Latest deliberations with Bangladesh additionally took up easing visa issuance, shore-leave facility and repatriation for seafarers.
“It was agreed to declare the land route at LCS (land customs stations) Radhikapur (Birol) and Hodibari (Chilahati) to increase commerce and connectivity,” officers mentioned.
Bangladesh has additionally agreed to type a joint committee to implement a typical Automated Identification System (AIS) on the IBP route, for higher vessel navigation and monitoring.
Discussions are additionally on to incorporate the Mongla-Jamtola stretch for passenger and cruise vessels to the Sunderbans space in Bangladesh.
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