AGARTALA, January 18 (TIWN): To develop the existing 50.78 kilometer long Akhaura Ashuganj road at earliest, a total of Rs. 35 crore will be allocated by the Bangladesh government while Rs. 1565.08 crore will be provided by the Government of India.
Speaking to the reporters at Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Akhaura today Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaiqul Quader said that the Government of India is providing Rs. 1565.08 crore and the Bangladesh government will provide Rs. 35 crore to develop the existing 50.78 kilometer long Akhaura Ashuganj road at earliest.Minister for Transport Manik Dey said that Minister Obaiqul Quader expressed a very positive attitude towards our proposal and said Bangladesh had decided to allow other countries to use the ports for mutual interests. India had stressed for better connectivity through the neighbouring country for the people living in the north eastern states of the country.

Prior to partition, Tripura was seamlessly connected to India through Bangladesh by road, rail and waterways which needs to be restored. There is an urgent need for transit and transshipment facility through Bangladesh, Manik Dey mentioned.

"If Feni Bridge is opened, the connectivity with Chittagang port will be easy not only for Tripura but also for the entire Northeast region. We should not wait for using Ashuganj or Chittagong port rather opt for constructing the much-awaited bridge over the river Feni connecting two sides", Dey added.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Sharan, Secretary of Transport Department Samarjit Bhowmik, District Magistrate & Collector West Tripura District Abhishek Singh and SDM Manik Lal Das were present.