Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated three development projects on 01 November 2023 via video-conference namely. Akhaura – Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link, Khulna – Mongla Port Rail Line and Unit – II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant.
The Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link project has been executed under Government of India grant of INR 392.52 Crore extended to Bangladesh. The project connects Gangasagar Railway station falling on the Dhaka-Chittagong rail line of Bangladesh with Nischintpur Railway Station in Tripura, India. The length of the rail link is 12.24 km with a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura. This rail link is the sixth cross border rail link between India and Bangladesh, and also the first railway link between Tripura and Bangladesh. Akhaura–Agartala rail link will facilitate connectivity of northeastern India with Chittagong Port.
The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line Project has been implemented under Government of India concessional Line of Credit with a total project cost of USD 388.92 million. The project entails construction of approximately 65 km of broad gauge rail route between Mongla Port and the existing rail network in Khulna. The construction of the project involved use of state of the art technology for piling and to address the special nature of the soil in the delta topography of the Khulna region. With the implementation of this rail link, the second largest port of Bangladesh, Mongla Port, gets connected with the railway network for the first time. With this rail link, Mongla Port will be the only port in Bangladesh getting connected by a broad gauge network.
The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project under Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of USD 1.6 billion, is a 1320 MW (2×660) Super Thermal Power Plant (MSTPP) located in Rampal in Bagerhat District of Bangladesh. The project has been implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Private) Limited (BIFPCL), which is a 50:50 Joint Venture company between India’s NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The project uses state-of-the-art ultra super-critical technology for lower emissions and a number of further steps have been taken to mitigate environmental impacts including air and water pollution. Unit I of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant was unveiled jointly by both Prime Ministers in September 2022. The operationalization of Maitree Power Plant will further enhance energy security in Bangladesh.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the inauguration of these three important projects and highlighted that economic development and improved bilateral as well as regional connectivity is the key to shared prosperity.
