India moots new railway, seaport links with Bangladesh Proposing new railway and seaport links with Bangladesh, India has said "constructive talks" on the long-pending transit issue could be resumed once the next government takes over in New Delhi and argued that enhanced connectivity will bring "huge financial gains" to Dhaka. "Transportation of goods through railway is cheaper than any other modes of transport," Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty told reporters after a meeting with Commerce Minister Faruq Khan here last night. Chakravarty suggested establishment of a new railway connection between Akhaura in central Bangladesh and Agartala in Tripura for enhanced trade and said that "constructive" talks on connectivity or transit could resume after a new government takes office in India. "Everybody now acknowledges that connectivity is necessary. If Bangladesh offers its roads and Chittagong Port for regional use, money will not be a problem for building required infrastructures," he said. He said New Delhi would like to see the upgrading of the north-eastern Chittagong Port as well as south-western Mongla Port so India could use these to transport its goods to north-eastern states. "There are many institutions to provide funding for upgrading the ports." The Indian envoy emphasised the importance of "political will" in making the longstanding proposal for providing transit through Bangladesh territory that, as he argued, would fetch "huge financial gains" for Dhaka. Referring to study reports, he said Bangladesh could earn revenue between USD 1.5 billion and USD 2 billion for providing Chittagong Port for regional use. The envoy also suggested launching of small border trade of small items between designated frontier village 'huts' on pilot project basis under the supervision of BDR and BSF. "This trading system could be started as pilot projects at different frontier points to see how it works," Chakravarty said. A commerce ministry spokesman later said the Minister told the envoy that Dhaka has "no problem in having trade deficit with India. What matters is the arrangement for increasing trade beneficial to both the sides". http://www.zeenews.com/ |
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