Vessels carrying goods by waterway between Tripura (India) and Daudkandi (Bangladesh) may soon be possible along the 93 kilometer length of the Sonamura-Daudkandi stretch of Gumati River. The route is Tripura’s first protocol route. It was approved on 20 May 2020, included in the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between India and Bangladesh.

News reports that Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had discussed plans to install a temporary jetty at Sonamura within the next three to four months with Mr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.

According to Mr. Deb, testing of the route will be done in the rainy season. Dredging of the river will be carried out in the next winter season when the water level is down. Initial report notes that there are 23 bridges that may create an obstruction for the movement of vessels if the water level rises.

The waterway route is set to increase the connectivity of Tripura and its adjoining states with Bangladesh's economic centers. This will give the hinterland of both countries a boost by opening up more opportunities in trade.

The current Protocol has six ports of call each in India and Bangladesh. In India, ports of call include Kolkata, Haldia, Karimganj, Pandu, Silghat, and Dhubri. In Bangladesh, the ports of call are Narayanganj, Khulna, Mongla, Sirajganj, Ashuganj and Pangaon. The second addendum adds five more ports on each side: Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogighopa in India, and Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad in Bangladesh. The second addendum also expanded the extended ports of call on each side: Tribeli and Badarpur in India, and Ghorasal and Muktarpur in Bangladesh.

Related links:

• New waterway connecting Tripura to Bangladesh within 3 months, says CM Biplab Kumar Deb
• Tripura gets its first Waterway's, Gumati River approved as Protocol Route