The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced on Monday that the Sittwe Port in Myanmar and the Kaladan Project are set to significantly benefit Tripura by reducing transportation times and logistics costs. This announcement comes as part of a broader initiative to improve connectivity between Northeast India and Myanmar, driven by the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, established under the India-Myanmar Friendship Treaty, which is expected to be fully operational by 2027.
Sonowal explained that, according to the Inland Water Transport (IWT) plan, Tripura will establish connections with Teknaf Port in Bangladesh. Goods can be shipped from Kolkata to Sittwe Port, which is approximately 60 nautical miles from Teknaf. After reaching Teknaf, these goods can be transported by road to Sabroom, located 300 kilometers away.
He emphasized that the reduction in transportation time and costs will greatly benefit Tripura, mentioning that shipments from Sittwe Port will include major exports such as rice, timber, fish, seafood, petroleum products, and garments. Conversely, imports will primarily consist of construction materials like cement, steel, and bricks.
Additionally, the Union Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance IWT infrastructure in Tripura and promote water-based tourism. He mentioned that the operationalization of the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) will provide new trade routes that bypass the Siliguri Corridor, thereby strengthening regional connectivity and furthering the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
In response to questions about the status of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), Sonowal stated, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeast stands at the heart of Bharat’s development agenda. Empowered by PM Modi’s transformative ‘Act East’ policy, this region, which was once landlocked, is now poised for direct and shorter access to international sea routes. The swift execution of the Sittwe Port in Myanmar is a testament to this commitment. Once fully operational, it will unlock new trade opportunities for Northeast India and for neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar, connecting them to Southeast Asia. This milestone embodies Modi ji’s guiding philosophy of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’—collective effort for inclusive growth.”
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/tripura/story/bangladeshs-teknaf-port-link-to-open-seamless-indo-bangla-trade-corridor-from-tripura-sarbananda-sonowal-1240997-2025-07-07?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-07-07 21:13:00
