Modi, Hasina to inaugurate JV through video conference

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate five major Indo-Bangladesh joint venture projects including rail links, electricity transmission grid and a fuel pipeline scheme on September 10 through video conference.

Both the Prime Ministers will meet on the sidelines of the fourth BIMSTEC summit on 31st August in Kathmandu.

As the general election of Bangladesh is scheduled to be held in the month of December this year, this will be India's outreach to its closest neighbour.

Sources pointed out that through the video conference Indian PM would reach out to the people of Bangladesh by sending a strong message about India's commitment for development for the region which will be a win-win situation for both the countries.

India and Bangladesh had agreed to lay the 15.54 km railway link between Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in 2010. This railway link would likely be operational within the next two years. Recently, the Executive Committee of the Bangladesh National Economic Council approved the construction of the Akhaura-Agartala dual gauge railway link project to improve railway connectivity and boost trade between the two countries. Indian Government approved the project much earlier.

This rail link will also open up the markets of India's northeastern states for Bangladesh, ensure smooth transportation of goods and facilitate people to people contact. Ultimately, the trade deficit gap might be reduced through large-scale import from Bangladesh to India. This connectivity will also reduce transportation cost and time.

This rail link will reduce the 1,700 km distance between Agartala and Kolkata to only 500 km once the new rail track is linked through Bangladesh. Both the PMs will also inaugurate restart of Kulaura-Shahbazpur rail route. The agreement for this project was signed in 2015.

PM Modi and Hasina will also inaugurate the groundbreaking of the 4th and 5th Dual gauge rail track between Dhaka and Tangi and doubling of dual gauge tracks between Tangi and Joydevpur. Bangladesh Railways has already signed a contract for a joint venture with two Indian companies to construct 3rd and 4th dual gauge tracks on Dhaka -Tonhgi and dual gauge double line Tongi-Joydevpur sections. Under the first Indian line of credit, Afcons Infrastructure Limited and Kalpataru Power Transmission limited would jointly construct the tracks within next 36 months.

About a thousand crores of rupees the contract was signed to build total 96 km new including 46 km 3rd and 4th dual gauge on Dhaka – Tongi, 11km dual gauge line on Tugi-Joydevpur and loop and yard lines. Both the PMs on that day would inaugurate a second grid line from transmission of another 500 MW power to Bangladesh. Both Premiers will also inaugurate the 130 km India-Bangladesh friendship pipeline project between Numaligarh of India and Parbatipur of Bangladesh.