What is Maitri Setu?

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Maitri Setu between India and Bangladesh on March 9. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the event via videoconferencing. What’s the Maitri Setu? Let’s find out.

Bridge over the Feni

The Maitri Setu is a double-lane bridge built over the River Feni that flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and the neighbouring Bangladesh. Originating in South Tripura district, the river flows through the Sabroom town before entering Bangladesh.

The bridge is 1.9 km long and links Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, facilitating connectivity that is crucial for the socio-economic development of the people in the region. The name “Maitri Setu”, meaning “Friendship Bridge”, symbolises the growing bilateral ties between the two countries.

Significance

The construction of the bridge was carried out by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, a company owned by the Indian Government, at a cost of Rs. 133 crore. Work on the bridge, entirely funded by the Central Government, began in June 2017.

“The Gateway of Northeast” With the inauguration of the bridge, Tripura is expected to become “the Gateway of Northeast”. Poised to boost trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh, the Maitri Setu will enable India’s landlocked Northeast to access the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh, which is 80 km from Sabroom, by road. This will also help other states in the region such as Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram to grow and explore the untapped markets across the borders.

Improving transport connectivity between the countries is expected to improve bilateral exports. The Maitri Setu will be the fastest land route from Sabroom to the Bangladesh Port. The bridge also makes Agartala, capital of Tripura, the first Indian city located closest to an international sea port.

 

Picture Credit : Google

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