New Delhi, March 9
A fortnight ahead of his visit to Dhaka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tueday inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’ (Friendship Bridge) between India and Bangladesh.
Maitri Setu spans 1.9 km and connects Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh over Feni River.
The flurry of activity coincided with March 9, marking the completion of three years of the BJP government in Tripura. Tuesday is also the last day of filing nomination papers for the first phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam.
Sources said the inauguration of the bridge was slated during PM Modi’s Dhaka visit on January 26 but the event was brought forward at South Block’s request.
As a result, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina could not be present real-time when PM Modi was inaugurating the bridge. Instead, a tape recorded address by Hasina was inserted.
“This is a historic moment as we are creating a new era in South Asia by providing connectivity to India. Political boundaries should not become physical barriers to trade,” she said.
At the same time, Hasina said the project was conceived by an earlier Chief Minister (Manik Sarkar of CPM) who had then approached her to facilitate various clearances. The Chief Minister, she said, had also assured that his side would take care of the financing.
PM Modi said the developmental activity was a result of “a double engine government, BJP at the Centre and BJP in Tripura”.
Tripura is witnessing progress as there is no commission or corruption at different levels of the government. Tripura has moved past its ‘hartaal culture’ and now has ease of doing business, Modi declared.
“The bridge is poised to herald a new chapter for trade and people to people movement between India and Bangladesh. With this inauguration, Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom,’’ read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office shortly after PM Modi had virtually inaugurated the bridge.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for setting up an integrated check post at Sabroom which will be built at an estimated cost of about Rs 232 crore.
He also laid the foundation stone of a highway in Tripura, 40,978 low income houses and a multi-level car parking and commercial complex at Old motor stand in Agartala.
The PM also virtually inaugurated “integrated command and control centers” for Agartala to identify the use of digital technology to integrate different service networks such as police, power, water and sanitation.
