Agartala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually opened the third Land Port at Sabroom in South Tripura on Saturday, facilitating trade of Northeast with South East Asian countries through the Chittagong Sea Port of Bangladesh.
India has already constructed a bridge over the River Feni to connect Tripura with Bangladesh by road, but it is not operational because it does not have a Land Custom Station and immigration facility for the movement of goods and people between the two countries.
Addressing the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister said, “The central government has been working on a mission mode to ensure building houses for every family, free rations, safe drinking water, and free healthcare, and to provide a sustainable internet facility even in the remotest corners of the country. Our aim is to develop Northeastern states with the rest of the country.”
“Without developing Astha Laxmi in Northeast, the growth of India is not possible, which is why the BJP-led government focus on the Act East Policy, which resulted in a transformation of the region into the HIRA (Highway, Internet, Roadways, and Airways) model,” Modi attributed.
Attending the program, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said, “After 2018, the political scenario in Tripura has changed under the leadership of Modi. We are waiting for Maitri Setu—connecting the state with Chittagong sea port at 70 km of operational distance—by which Tripura will become the gateway of Southeast Asia.”
After Akhaura and Srimantapur Integrated Check Post (ICP), Sabroom LP is the biggest one for the region through which Northeast India and other states can easily access Chittagong port. This is all possible due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who worked for the overall development of the region, Dr Saha underlined, adding, “We feel proud of having a guardian who is moving the country forward.”
He stated about Rs 250 Crore spent for Sabroom Land Port, Rs 732.98 Crore for tap water, Rs 48 Crore for Eklavya Model Residential School in Rupaichari and Karbook in Gomati district, Rs 154.51 Cr for rehabilitation and upgradation of road from Kailashahar-Kurti Bridge section on NH-208A, Rs 251. 89 Cr for rehabilitation and up-gradation of road from Manu – Lalchara Section on NH-44A.
With the Prime Minister’s vision for the progress of Northeast, Tripura is becoming a new hub of trade and business in this region. A number of road and railway projects and international connectivity with Bangladesh have begun to reform this place, Dr Saha added.
Besides, modern Land Port along Sabroom to facilitate trade and commerce with South East Asian countries through Chittagong Sea port of Bangladesh, the PM inaugurated as many as 11 projects in Tripura which includes 1.46 lakh Rural Functional Household Tap Connections; four school buildings; an Eklavya Model Residential School building; and seven other projects of rehabilitation and up-gradation of roads worth more than Rs. 2400 crore.
He also laid foundation for 12 projects – Agartala Government Dental College Building; 200 bedded Maternal Child Health wing at Agartala Govt Medical College; Western Bypass of Agartala; Improvement and widening of NH-208; Strengthening & improvement of riding quality of four roads to ensure better connectivity; Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Drug Addicted in Sepahijala district, PM Ekta Mall Building for expanding trade and commerce, Installation of Solar Micro Grids in renewable energy and new depot at Sekerkote in petroleum sector worth around Rs. 6100 crore.
