New waterways possible between India and B'desh: Study

New waterways between India and Bangladesh will be possible by connecting two rivers of Tripura with as many rivers of Bangladesh, according to a study by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services.
RITES has submitted the Detail Project Report (DPR) after conducting feasibility study to create new inland water transport between the Gomati and the Howrah rivers in the state with the Meghna and the Titas rivers of the neighbouring country, Secretary of Transport Department Kishore Ambuly said today.
"The rivers will have navigation facilities for smooth movement of barges," he said.
The North Eastern Council (NEC) had provided funds for preparing the DPR for development of waterways in north eastern part of the country.

The project report would be submitted to the union ministry of shipping and other ministries concerned to formally initiate the process to open new waterway between two the two neighbours.
RITES had conducted a preliminary feasibility study early this year.

The state government had submitted a proposal to the central government for declaring the Gomti river as a national waterway keeping in view the potential of linkage with inland waterways of Bangladesh, he said.
Indian and Bangladeshi waterways connect West Bengal and Assam and the inland waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Bangladesh Inland water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are operating vessels on these routes, official sources said.

The two neighbours share 2,979km of land border and 1,116km of riverine boundary and also share 54 rivers, including eight rivers flowing from Tripura.