The Maitri Setu (English: Friendship bridge ) also called The Gateway of Northeast,[1] is an economically crucial bridge built over the Feni River to link with Tripura in India with Chittagong in Bangladesh.[2] The construction of the Template:Convert bridge between Sabroom and Ramgarh was announced by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in 2015.[3][1] The bridge provides the only land link between India's eastern states and its western states other than through Assam.[4] Maitri Setu was constructed by Ahmedabad based Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Private Limited (DRA Infracon).
History and construction
The foundation stone for the bridge was officially laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in June 2015. The cost of constructing the bridge, as well as the approach roads to it in both Bangladesh and India, was borne by India. The Tripura Public Works Department was appointed to execute the project. The bridge connects Tripura with the Chittagong port in Bangladesh providing landlocked North East India with access to the sea, and enabling the transport of heavy machines and goods to North East India via Bangladesh.[5]
The bridge was inaugurated on 9 March 2021 by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina via video conference. The bridge was named "Maitri Setu" symbolizing the growing friendship and bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.[6] The construction was taken up by the Government of India at a project cost of ₹133 crores.[6]
Traffic
The bridge place a very important economic role as a major trade route to northeast India, with access to Chittagong Port, which is just Template:Convert from the border.[7][8]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maitri Setu & why the India-Bangladesh bridge is being touted as ‘Gateway to Northeast’
- ↑ 'New trade corridor': PM Modi inaugurates 'Maitri Setu' between India and Bangladesh. Hindustan Times.
- ↑ India–Bangladesh to Start Work on Bridge This Month. Sify Finance(2010-12-22). Retrieved 2014-10-13.
- ↑ India to Develop Bangladesh Port. Tripurainfo(2014-10-07). Retrieved 2014-10-13.
- ↑ India starts work on bridge over Feni river linking North-East to Chittagong. The Financial Express(11 June 2016). Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Maitri Setu Bridge India Bangladesh Inaugurated BY PM Modi. The Nitrrsh World(9 March 2021). Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ↑ PM Modi inaugurates India-Bangladesh ‘Maitri Setu' bridge, multiple infrastructure projects in Tripura. Times Now News.
- ↑ All about Maitri Setu Bridge between India and Bangladesh inaugurated by PM Modi.