Maitri Setu

Maitri Setu (lit. friendship bridge) is a 150-metre (490 ft) bridge on Feni River which links Tripura in India with Chittagong port in Bangladesh,[2][3] thus providing a shorter and more economical alternate land route between India's eastern and western states compared to the longer route through Assam.[4] On 9 March 2021, it was officially opened to public by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The bridge is constructed and being maintained by NHIDCL. [5]

Maitri Setu

মৈত্রী সেতু
मैत्री सेतु
Coordinates22°59′49″N 91°43′25″E
Carries2-lanes
CrossesFeni River
LocaleNorth end: Sabroom in Tripura, India
South end: Ramgarh in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Other name(s)Gateway of Northeast
Named forIndo-Bangladesh friendship [1]
Maintained byNational Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)
Characteristics
MaterialSteel and concrete
Total length1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi)
History
Constructed byDineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Private Limited (DRA Infracon)
Construction startJune 2015
Construction cost₹133 crores
Inaugurated9 March 2021
Location

History

In June 2015, the foundation stone for the bridge was officially laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The cost of constructing the bridge, as well as the approach roads to it in both Bangladesh and India, was borne by India. The NHIDCL was appointed to execute the project. The bridge connects Tripura with the Chittagong port in Bangladesh providing landlocked North East India with access to the sea, and enabling the transport of heavy machines and goods to North East India via Bangladesh.[6][2] Bridge was constructed by Ahmedabad based Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Private Limited (DRA Infracon).

The bridge was inaugurated on 9 March 2021 by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina via video conference. The bridge was named "Maitri Setu" symbolizing the growing friendship and bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.[7] The construction was taken up by the Government of India at a project cost of ₹133 crores.[7]

Significance

The bridge place a very important economic role as a major trade route to Northeast India, with access to Chittagong Port, which is just 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the border.[8][9] Land route between Agartala and Kolkata Port through this bridge is just 450 km via Bangladesh compared to the 1600 km land route via Siliguri Corridor. Logistics cost from Agartala to Kolkata Port will be 80% lower, as compared to the Siliguri Corridor, if the goods are sent through this bridge via Chattogram Port 200 km away.[5]

Future connectivity

A rail link extension to Chittagong Port and Cox's Bazar deep water port in Bangladesh by rehabilitating the railway link from Santir Bazar railway station in India to Feni Junction railway station in Bangladesh is planned which will also provide the strategic redundancy and alternative to Kaladan Multi-Modal project route if there is a war with China.[10]

See also

References
  1. Maitri Setu: 1.9km Long Bridge Over Feni River in Tripura To Link India-Bangladesh. Details Here
  2. "India–Bangladesh to Start Work on Bridge This Month". Sify Finance. IANS. 2010-12-22. Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  3. "'New trade corridor': PM Modi inaugurates 'Maitri Setu' between India and Bangladesh". Hindustan Times.
  4. "India to Develop Bangladesh Port". Tripurainfo. IANS. 2014-10-07. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  5. "Maitri Setu & why the India-Bangladesh bridge is being touted as 'Gateway to Northeast'". The Print. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  6. "India starts work on bridge over Feni river linking North-East to Chittagong". The Financial Express. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. "Maitri Setu Bridge India Bangladesh Inaugurated BY PM Modi". The Nitrrsh World. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  8. "PM Modi inaugurates India-Bangladesh 'Maitri Setu' bridge, multiple infrastructure projects in Tripura". Times Now News.
  9. "All about Maitri Setu Bridge between India and Bangladesh inaugurated by PM Modi". Dainik Jagran. 10 March 2021.
  10. As Smart as Sittwe: Going North-East by South-East, First Post, 2019.
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