PM Modi inaugurates India-Bangladesh ‘Maitri Setu' bridge | Read Details

India, March 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’ bridge between India and Bangladesh on Tuesday via video conferencing.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, during the launch of Maitri Setu Bridge via videoconference, said the opening of the bridge is testimony to the Bangladesh government’s continued commitment to support its neighbour India in strengthening connectivity in the region, particularly for Northeast India.

During the event, PM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects in Tripura.

Tripura is emerging as a role model of the big states that don’t have double-engine governments. The governments who waste their time quarrelling with Delhi are also realising. Once a power-deficit state, Tripura is now a power surplus state,” PM Modi said.

He added, “Tripura, which was pushed back by the strike culture for many years, is now working for Ease of Doing Business. Where industries had come to the brink of closure, there is now space for new industries and investments.”

For the first time, the purchase of farm produce on MSP has been ensured in Tripura. People working under MGNREGA are now getting Rs 205 per day instead of Rs 135 per day.”


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What is ‘Maitri Setu’?

The bridge ‘Maitri Setu’ has been built over the Feni river which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh.

It is a 1.9 km long bridge joining Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.

The bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 133 crore by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

The name ‘Maitri Setu’ symbolises growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh. It is poised to herald a new chapter for trade and people to people movement between India and Bangladesh,” a statement issued by the prime minister’s office said.

The inauguration of the bridge will ensure Tripura becoming the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom.

PM Modi lays foundation stone of infrastructure projects

PM Modi lay the foundation stone for setting up an Integrated Check Post at Sabroom.

It will help ease the movement of goods and passengers between the two neighbouring countries, provide new market opportunities for products of North-East states and assist the seamless movement of passengers to and from India and Bangladesh.

Land Ports The Authority of India will be building the project at an estimated cost of about Rs 232 crore.

The prime minister also laid the foundation stone of NH 208 connecting the Unakoti district headquarters at Kailashahar with the Khowai district headquarters.


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It will provide an alternative route to the NH 44. The 80 km NH 208 project has been taken up by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited with a project cost of Rs 1078 crore.

In an attempt to provide all-weather connectivity to the people of Tripura, PM Modi also inaugurated state highways and other district roads, developed by the state government with a financial outlay of Rs 63.75 crore.

The prime minister inaugurated 40,978 houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), completed with a financial outlay of Rs 813 crore. He also inaugurated the Integrated Command and Control Centre built under Agartala Smart City Mission.

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the development of the Multi-Level Car Parking and Commercial complex at Old Motor Stand.

It will be developed at an investment of about Rs 200 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for the widening of the existing road from Lichubagan to the airport from two lanes to four lanes.

The work is being implemented by Agartala Smart City Mission at a project cost of about Rs 96 crore.