Modi, Hasina to inaugurate 3 JV projects today

NEW DELHI: Amidst a clarion call to drive out "infiltrators" adopted in a political resolution of the BJP National executive meet here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again will extend a hand of cooperation to its immediate neighbour, Bangladesh on Monday.

Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate three major Indo-bangladesh joint venture projects including rail links, electricity transmission grid through video conferencing Monday afternoon from South Block. During the occasion, High Commissioner of Bangladesh Syed Moazzem Ali and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with top officials of Government of India will be present. Similarly, in Dhaka, PM Hasina has invited Indian High Commissioner Harsh Bardhan Sringla to Gana Bhavan

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, ignoring the domestic controversy over the ongoing NRC process in the state of Assam. Both the PMS will also inaugurate two more important rail-links and a diesel pipeline from Numaligargh refinery of Assam to Parbatipur of Bangladesh on 18 September.

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 the development of that country, 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 Ku laura shah bazp ur rail route. This was pre-independence rail link and part of the Trans Asian railway project connecting in future South Asia to South East Asia.

The agreement for this project was signed in 2015.

PM Modi and Hasina on 18 September 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 month.

With about a thousand crores of rupees, the contract was signed to build a 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 Bhemramara of West Bengal 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.