AGARTALA, Nov 21 (TIWN): Chief Secretary Yash Pal Singh on Friday conducted a preparatory meeting at Secretariat building to discuss on the measures required to set up for the warm welcome of the BBIN trial car rally at Agartala on Nov 27 at Agartala. The cross-border four nation car trial run through Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) has launched its run from Bhuwaneshwar on 15 November. 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 hoisted for a preparatory meeting to successfully welcome the BBIN car rally at Tripura in presence of Traffic SP, IG Law & order, Transport Secretary Samarjit Bhowmik and others. To highlight the sub-regional connectivity and the scope and opportunities for greater people-to-people contact and trade, a BBIN Friendship Motor Rally is launched from Nov 15.

 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.

BBIN Friendship Motor Rally will enter Bangladesh through Biluniya border in Feni on November 28. The motor rally was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar on November 14 and started its journey on November 15 after the end of flagging off.

Now it is staying at Gangtok city of Sikim in India. From Sikim, the rally will start its journey for Bhutan and it will cover Fuentsoling on November 21, Thimpu on November21-22, Mongar on November 24 and later enter Gauhati in Assam from Bhutan on November 25. Via Shilchar in Assam, the rally will cross Agartala on November 27.

From Agartala, the rally will enter Bangladesh through Biluniya on November 28. Later it will stay in Chittagong. From Chittagong, the rally will start its journey for Dhaka on November 29.

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.

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.