The Central Government will pump in Rs 250 crore for dredging of Brahmaputra river from Sadiya in Assam to Bangladesh to encourage the landlocked State to have direct access to Chittagong port of Bangladesh and Haldia port of West Bengal.
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said this while addressing the concluding function of Namami Brahmaputra in Guwahati on Tuesday and added that necessary formalities have already been completed with the Bangladesh Government in this regard.
“Once the project is materialised, this will change the entire economic corridor of Assam as Brahmaputra National Waterway-II will have direct access to Chittagong port of Bangladesh, Haldia port of West Bengal and consequently get the required push for trade with the south east Asian nations,” he said.
The Union Minister also stated that Central Govern-
ment will provide funds for development of 56 jetties on the banks of Brahmaputra and operationalise five more roll-on and roll-off vessels to improve waterway communication in the State. Gadkari has also asked the State Government for identifying places on the banks of Brahmaputra which can be developed into ports and submit their feasibility report to the Union Ministry.
Prior to addressing the closing ceremony, the Union Minister also reviewed the progress of several National Highways and other projects related to construction of Brahmaputra Express Highway and National Waterways over river Brahmaputra in a high level meeting attended by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, several State Ministers and senior officials of both Central and State Government held at the Brahmaputra State Guest House in the city.
He said that 1,253 kms of State roads will be converted into NHs with a target to convert 3,000 km of State roads into National Highways. “Already conversion of 2,000 kms of State roads into NHs have been approved by the Union Government. Detail Project Report of 23 projects falling within the stretch of 1,253 kms have been completed and work for the same will start soon,” Gadkari added.
Gadkari also informed that the existing Guwahati bypass from Khanapara to Jalukbari will be converted into a six lane highway.