AGARTALA, October 20 (TIWN): The second consignment of Andhra rice reached Tripura via Bangladesh today, said Deputy Director of Food, Sekhar lal Das.

Four Bangladeshi trucks loaded with rice entered India through the Akhaura integrated check post today afternoon in the presence of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Tripura government officials.

Bangladeshi trucks transported rice from Ashuganj port in Bangladesh directly to the FCI warehouse at Nandannagar (on the outskirts of the capital city). Deputy Director of Food further mentioned that around 20 trucks each carrying 17 tonnes of rice are expected to arrive in Agartala everyday from Ashuganj port for the next 10 to 12 days from Tuesday.

It is to be mentioned here that, the first consignment of 5thousand metric ton arrived in the state in the month of August. Highly placed sources in the Food department said that, the duration of the second consignment had been extended to one hour. Earlier the time was 8 am and it is now extended to 9am.

The source further mentioned that, after primary inspection in the border, the rice loaded trucks were sent to the Nandannagar FCI store.

Earlier, Tripura Food, Civil Supplies and finance Minister Bhanulal Saha said: "The rice is being ferried via Bangladesh to avoid the long and mountainous surface road up to Tripura via Assam and Meghalaya. As the railway service disrupts, now the way through Bangladesh deserves to be the major way for import of rice and other essential commodities.