AGARTALA, Nov 13 (TIWN): The cross-border four nation car trial run through Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) to launch its run from Bhuwaneshwar on 16 November.To highlight the sub-regional connectivity and the scope and opportunities for greater people-to-people contact and trade, there will be a BBIN Friendship Motor Rally from Nov 16. It was decided by the Transport Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. This car rally will not only highlight advantages of connectivity in the region, but also help and demonstrate the practical framework of BBIN Agreement to facilitate cross border movement of vehicles.State administration has already geared up for the welcome of the BBIN car rally which is scheduled to reach Tripura on Nov 27. However, Chief Secretary Yash Pal singh has called for a preparatory meeting on Nov 20 to successfully welcome the BBIN car rally at Tripura.BBIN car rally will start from Bhuweneshwar of Orissa State of India with 85 cars from the four countries. Starting from Bhuwaneshwar the rally will move to Bihar and west Bengal and then to Bhutan. From Bhutan the rally will move ahead to Nepal. From Nepal the rally will move to siliguri to guwahati and then to Silchar to Dharmanagar.

However, on Nov 27 the rally will reach to Agartala from Dharmanagar and the following day the rally will move to Chattagram of Bangladesh from Tripura.

From Chattagram the rally will end at Kolkata on December 2 via Benapole border.  

When the regular cargo movement will start between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, huge economic benefits would accrue to the people of the participating countries in this sub-regional initiative.

Once this trial run is successfully accomplished the administration will officially announce the movement of vehicles in the following route.

The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement aims to ensure that goods laden vehicles of each country ply uninterrupted through designated corridors.

The cargo transportation initiative would reduce the distance between Kolkata and Agartala by nearly two thirds - from 1,550 kms to 640 km.

The BBIN motor vehicles agreement was signed on June 15 in Bhutan's capital Thimphu.

IT is to be mentioned here that A trial run of cargo transport between Kolkata and Agartala through Dhaka, reducing the distance by nearly two-thirds, reached Aukhaura check post successfully.  

The trial run was from the West Bengal state secretariat Nabanna in neighbouring Howrah district as a part of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement.

DHL Global Forwarding bearing number WB- 1189519 carrying a consignment of electronics goods from Kolkata to Agartala through Dhaka reached Tripura Aukhaura check post.

It is to be mentioned here that aiming at unhindered cargo movement through designated corridors without any requirement of trans-shipment at the international borders between the four countries; the BBIN sub-regional initiative has reduced distance between Kolkata and Tripura's Agartala by nearly two thirds - from 1,550 kms to 640 km.