On March 9, 2021, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi Inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’ (India-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge) virtually between India and Bangladesh over Feni River at Sabroom in south Tripura. During the event he also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for eight other infrastructure projects together worth ₹ 3,518 crore.
Objective -The Maitri Setu Bridge will help improve connectivity and enhance economic opportunities for people of both the countries.
About Maitri Setu Bridge:
i.Maitri Setu Bridge is 1.9 Km long.
ii.Maitri Setu Bridge Connects Tripura, India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
iii.National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd constructed the Bridge at a project cost of Rs. 133 Crores.
iv.With this inauguration, Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 Kms from Sabroom.
v.The Bridge will also benefit the government of Assam, Mizoram, Manipur because it will help to connect the above mentioned states with Bangladesh as well as with the other countries of SouthEast Asia.
Note – Once the Feni Bridge becomes operational, Agartala will become closest city in country to an international sea ports.
PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Addressed the Event
- Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina had send a video message during the inauguration ceremony.
- While addressing the event, Chittagong Port and Mongla port as Port of Call to facilitate India’s uninterrupted international and domestic trade activities through waterways in Bangladesh.
Other Inaugurations by PM Narendra Modi in Tripura:
While addressing the event, PM Narendra Modi talked about the HIRA development i.e. Highways, i-ways, Railways and Airways for Tripura & inaugurated various projects viz,
i.PM, Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for setting up an Integrated Check Post at Sabroom.
- The Check Post will be constructed by the Land Ports Authority of India at an estimated cost of about Rs. 232 Crores.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone of 80 Km Long NH 208 connecting the Unakoti district headquarters at Kailashahar with the Khowai district headquarters.
- NH 208 project will be constructed by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited(NHIDCL) with a project cost of Rs. 1078 Crores.
iii.He will also inaugurate State Highways and other district roads, with a financial outlay of Rs. 63.75 Crores.
- It will be developed by the State government & will provide all weather connectivity to the people of Tripura.
iv.He will inaugurate 40978 houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), completed with the financial outlay of Rs. 813 Crores.
v.He will also inaugurate the Integrated Command and Control Centre built under Agartala Smart City Mission. & will lay the foundation stone for the development of Multi Level Car Parking and Commercial Complex at Old Motor Stand. It will be developed at an investment of about Rs 200 crore.
vi.He will also lay foundation stone for widening of road from Lichubagan to the airport from two lanes to four lanes. The work is being implemented by Agartala Smart City Mission at a project cost of about Rs 96 crores.
Recent Related News:
i.On February 18, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ programme & laid the foundation stone for 2 Bridges ‘Dhubri-Phulbari’ bridge which is set to be India’s Longest Bridge & ‘Majuli’ Bridge in Assam.
ii.On January 22, 2021, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma inaugurated India’s Longest Steel Arch Bridge ‘Wahrew Bridge’ at Tharia Village in Meghalaya. The 169 metre long bridge connects Bholaganj & Sohbar to Nongjri in East Khasi Hills and runs over the river Wahrew.
About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -Urban (PMAY-U):
PMAY-U is a flagship Mission of Government of India being implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), was launched on 25th June 2015.
Target – To provide housing for all in urban areas by year 2022.
Budget Allocation – In Union Budget 2021-22, MoHUA was allocated with Rs 27,500 crore for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
About Tripura:
Kokborok is the main native language of the Tripuri people of the Indian state of Tripura and neighbouring areas of Bangladesh. Its name comes from kok meaning “verbal” and borok meaning “people” or “human”.
Chief Minister – Biplab Kumar Deb
Capital – Agartala
About Bangladesh:
Prime Minister – Sheikh Hasina
Capital – Dhaka
Currency – Bangladeshi Taka
