First ever cargo from Bhutan to B'desh via India digitally launched

New Delhi: In a first ever movement of its kind, Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge)Mansukh Mandaviya, on Friday digitally flagged-off a ship of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, carrying stone from Bhutan to be delivered to Bangladesh. The ship - MV AAI - has set sail from Dhubri in Assam and will travel to Narayanganj in Bangladesh, over river Brahmaputra and the Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route. This is the first time an Indian waterway is being used as a channel for transport of cargo between two countries, using India for transit.

Speaking on this occasion Mandaviya said that the development is a historic one, taking ahead the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote cargo transportation through inland waterways. He said the move will be beneficial to India as well as Bhutan and Bangladesh, and strengthen relations between the neighbouring countries. He said transport of cargo through this route will cut short travel time by 8 to 10 days, and reduce transportation cost by 30%, bringing down logistics costs.