Trial Run on Daudkandi | Tripura Waterways

Shipments of goods have reached Tripura, India from Daudkandi, Bangladesh. On 5 September 2021, the consignment of cement went from Daudkandi ,Comilla to Sonamura in Tripura on a trial basis via the Gomti river. It is basically the first initiative to be used as a direct import-export naval route between the two countries.

Premier Cement Mills Limited, has become the first exporter of the product by river to the northeastern Indian state of Tripura. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has given the approval to the company to export goods on a trial basis. It was inaugurated in Sonamura India. BIWTA Chairman Golam Sadeq inaugurated the experimental navigation by flying balloons at the Bibirbazar, Gomti section of Comilla.

 

At present, about 5 per cent of the country's total cement production goes to the northeastern states of India. The country's exporters are currently using the Akhaura land port to export goods to Tripura. On May, two new waterway agreements were signed between the two countries in Dhaka. One is from Rajshahi to Dulihan in India and the other is from Daudkandi to Sonamura. According to the agreement, the trial run started. The distance from Daudkandi to Sonamura is 93 km. From there, the consignment is to travel by road to Agartala, the capital of Tripura.

Traders involved in exports to Tripura said the Gumti River has many problems and crises. The biggest problem is the navigability crisis in the river. The navigability of Gumti River is very low. It is not suitable for navigation at depths of more than three to three and a half feet. As a result, it is not possible to move large cargo ships. You have to bring and take only limited goods in one vessel. The height of the bridge is also a big problem. There are 23 low-height bridges along the Gumti river. As a result, it will not be possible for large vessels to pass under the bridge. 

Mohammad Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement Mills Limited said that this is the first time that this trade facility has been created by waterway with the northeastern Indian state of Tripura. This will boost exports to Tripura and other northeastern states and reduce transportation costs. Transporting goods by water is relatively cheaper and definitely more environmentally friendly than by road or rail. This movement can be continued even in the dry season, if regular dredging is done in the necessary parts of the Gumti river. In addition, low-altitude bridges need to be addressed quickly. If the waterway can be used to accommodate large cargo ships, Bangladesh's construction materials will be ahead in the price competition. In addition, regular use of the waterway will increase bilateral trade with neighboring countries.

Bangladesh Water development Board says, The Gumti River has a flow of 2 to 3 meters in the monsoon season, but in the dry season there is one meter of water somewhere in the river. However, dredging will have to be done at different places of the river to make it suitable for navigation if the commercial shipping between the two countries starts in full swing.

Large and small cargo ships will not be able to operate on this river as there are at least 23 low and high bridges on the river. As a result, import and export of goods has to be done in small ships. The BIWTA has already taken up a project for dredging the river. They also have a project underway. The Water Development Board will work to protect the embankment of the river once it starts exporting by sea.

The distance between Bibirbazar land port and Gumti river waterway is 200 meters. Through this land port, Bangladeshi goods have been exported to the tune of Tk 92.47 crore in the 2018-19 fiscal year and revenue of BDT 73 lac has been collected on goods imported from India. Revenue will be further increased through import and export of goods by river.

The relationship between Bangladesh and India is set to reach another milestone with the first ever export consignment from Daudkandi reaching Tripura through inland waterways. This route is significant as it connects Tripura to the national waterways of India through Bangladesh for the first time.

If Bangladesh can create a better competitive scenario, then Bangladeshi exporters can grab a larger portion of exports using this waterway, but the government will have to incentivize the private sector for using and popularizing this route. Since riverways are more cost effective than roads or railway transportation, Bangladesh can explore many avenues if it can explore the river route properly.

 

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