The foundation stone for the terminal was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, 2021.
Credit: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Guwahati: In what has been called as another push to India's Act East policy, an inland water transport terminal, to push trade and relations among Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh, was inaugurated on Monday on the Brahmaputra (National Waterways 2) at Jogighopa in Assam.
Two vessels carrying stone chips and coal were flagged off from the terminal for Bangladesh. The terminal is strategically important as both Bangladesh and Bhutan are within 100 kms range from the terminal via waterways while Guwahati is 147 kms away.
"The terminal is set to transform the connectivity in the region and bolster our trilateral trade with Bhutan and Bangladesh. Its strategic position allows it to play the role of an economic multiplier for the region," Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said after inaugurating the terminal.
The foundation stone for the terminal was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, 2021.
Sonowal said the terminal, set up at a cost of Rs 82 crore, has the potential to boost trade by reducing transportation expenditure and offering an eco-friendly and alternative mode of transport via the Brahmaputra river.
The Jogighopa terminal is also one of the declared ports of 'call under inland water transport protocol' between India and Bangladesh. "By 2027, this terminal is expected to handle cargo of 1.1 million tonnes per annum," Sonowal said.
"Through strategic regional projects and agreements with neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and others, India is diligently establishing itself as a pivotal waterway gateway for the facilitation of enhanced regional trade and seamless transport connectivity, thus contributing to the overall development and integration of South Asia, while ensuring the sustainability and vitality of the region’s economic landscape."
The Jogighopa terminal has an RCC jetty with an RCC approach designed for Electric Level Luffing crane for cargo handling. The terminal also has infrastructural facilities such as administrative building, customs office building, immigration office, truck parking area, 1100 sqm covered storage area with power backup, and 11,000 sqm open storage.
Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Bhutan Minister of Industries, Commerce and Employment, attended the event and joined Sonowal and other ministers, MPs, MLAs and officials in Assam in flagging off the vessels.