India to begin passing heavy tools to Tripura thru' Ashuganj next yr

---

Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
Transportation of heavy equipment to set up power plants in the Indian state of Tripura through Ashuganj river port will begin next year, said sources.
The Indo-Bangla joint survey, however, has identified serious road transport problems in carrying the heavy equipment by 49-kilometre road from Ashuganj river port to the Akhaura border, they said.
"The joint survey committee has identified that bridges on the 49-kilometre road between Ashuganj and Akhaura cannot bear the load of the cargoes," shipping secretary Mohammad Abdul Mannan Howladar told the FE.
The government with the help of the Indian authorities will develop the road network so that the cargo can be shipped by next year, he said.
The weight of the cargo is about 350 tonnes and over 15 bridge diversions are needed to carry the over dimensional cargoes (ODC), he added.
"We also need to straighten up the sharp turns and cut trees on the road sides, so that the big trailers could move easily," the secretary said.
It is expected that at least six months will be needed to increase the capacity of the road, Mr Howladar said.
"Roads and Highways Department (RHD) will determine the amount of money that will be needed to develop the road network and India will bear all the expenses of the development work," he said.
For the development of Ashuganj port, the government is planning to ask for Tk 800 million from the Indian government, he added.
A RHD official said it has already prepared the development project proposal (DPP) for the development of the road.
The short-term focus is to pass the ODC as the government has given priority to this project, he said.
For the long term, the government is planning to reconstruct the 49km road keeping the future transshipment prospects in mind, he added.
"It is expected that the road will be prepared in one year after getting the final nod from ECNEC by June," the official said.
During the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January Bangladesh declared Ashuganj river port as a 'port-of-call'.
As per the announcement, the Indian vessels are allowed to use Ashuganj as an intermediate port, where ships customarily stop for supplies, repairs, or transshipment of cargo.
There is no problem on waterways to bring the cargoes from Kolkata to Ashuganj port, but road network needs to be developed, said a member of the joint survey committee.
Bangladesh waterways can absorb vessels with 13 feet draught and the vessels carrying cargoes from Kolkata will be of maximum 8 feet draught, he said.
"A 15-kilometre new road needs to be developed near Akhaura border and the rest of the road adjusted as the cargoes will be carried by about 100-foot-long special trailers," he said.
The Indian government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will set up a 726 megawatt power plant at Palatana in Tripura and use the Bangladesh territory to ferry the heavy equipment for three years.
India has long been demanding that Bangladesh allow the neighbouring country to use its territory to ferry products to seven Indian north-eastern states.