Key Notes : Friendship Bridge Between India and Bangladesh, Strong Economic link, Trade and Commerce, Development of North East States, Feni River, International Relations (IR), World Bank.
Why in News :
On 9th March 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Maitri Setu’ (Friendship Bridge) between India and Bangladesh via video conferencing. ‘Maitri Setu’ bridge which spans 1.9 kilometres over the Feni river and joining Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
PM Modi said, "The connectivity between Bangladesh and India will
prove to be very important for the northeast region and for India and
Bangladesh trade as well. This is a new trade corridor between India and
Bangladesh."
Key Points :
• The bridge ‘Maitri Setu’ has been built over Feni river which flows
between Indian boundary in Tripura State and Bangladesh.
• The name ‘Maitri Setu’ symbolizes growing bilateral relations and
friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.
• The 1.9 Km long bridge joins
Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
• It will enhance trade and people to people movement between India and
Bangladesh.
• By this, Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with
access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 Kms from Sabroom.
• The construction was taken up by the National Highways and
Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
• PM Modi also lay the foundation stone for setting up an Integrated Check
Post at Sabroom. It will provide new market opportunities for products of North
East states and assist seamless movement of passengers to and from India and
Bangladesh.
• The name of the bridge symbolises the growing bilateral relations and
friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.
• With the opening of Feni Bridge, Agartala will become the closest
city in the country to an international seaport.
Benefits :
According to World Bank (WB) :
• Improved connectivity between India and
Bangladesh can bring substantial gains in national income, trade.
• Improved transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh could increase India’s export by 172% while Bangladesh export to India could almost rise 3 times.
• The transport connectivity between India and
Bangladesh has the potential to increase national income of Bangladesh by 17
percent and 8 percent in India.
• Bilateral trade, the report says that it
accounts for 10 percent of Bangladesh trade while it is just about 1 percent
for India. It calls for enhancing bilateral trade by removing tariff and
non-tariff barriers.
• Geographically Bangladesh is placed as a strategic gateway to India, Nepal,
Bhutan and other East Asian countries.
• Bangladesh can become an economic powerhouse by improving regional trade, transit and logistics networks.
• Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh, can grow beyond present USD 10 billion mark.
• The report calls for strengthening of the Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) signed in 2015 as it is the cornerstone of the cross border integrated transport market in the subregion.
About Feni River :
• Feni River (Bengali: ফেনী নদী Feni Nodi) is a river in southeastern Bangladesh
and Tripura state of India.
• It is a trans-boundary river with an ongoing dispute about water rights.
Dispute between India and Bangladesh :
The question of sharing of the waters of the river between India and Pakistan was discussed as early as 1958.
Reports from Pakistan in 2007 said, "India is trying to withdraw water from Feni River for irrigation projects in exchange of resolving erosion problem in Bangladesh side of this bordering river."
According to statement on sharing of river waters with Bangladesh, released by India in 2007, "Feni River has been added to its mandate in the 36th JRC meeting. A decision was taken in the meeting that the Ministers of Water Resources of both the countries would visit the sites where developmental works have been held up. This Joint Inspection of various locations of developmental and flood protection works on common rivers was held from September 14–21, 2006.
• The Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through
Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh.
• Muhuri River, also called Little Feni, from Noakhali District joins it
near its mouth.
• The river is navigable by small boats as far as Ramgarh, about 80
kilometres (50 mi) upstream.
Connectivity with Bangladesh is not only strengthening friendship but is also working as strong trade link. The entire region is being developed as a trade corridor between eastern, North Eastern India and Bangladesh.
Important Facts for UPSC/UPPSC
✓Maitri Setu (Friendship Bridge) Length : 1.9 Km.
✓Feni River flow between India and Bngladesh.
✓Joining Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
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