Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), erstwhile Kolkata Post Trust, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saif Powertec Ltd (SPL) of Bangladesh to facilitate the establishment of a new multimodal transport route connecting North East (NE) region of India via Chattogram, Mongla Port, Ashuganj River Port, or Pangaon Inland Container Terminal.
The initiative will not only alleviate the time and cost of transporting cargo from mainland India to its NE but also furnish an alternative route avoiding the congested Siliguri and Guwahati corridors. The distance from Kolkata to Agartala is around 1619 km via Siliguri but via Chattogram port, it is nearly 575 km. By road it takes 6-7 days to cover the distance via Siliguri but via Chattagram port, it will take only 4-5 days from SMPK.
SMPK chairman Rathendra Raman said that a steady liner service of containerized vessels on riverine and sea routes, duly equipped with efficient handling facilities at the ports, will encourage the traders/cargo owners of both India and Bangladesh, to avail the waterways on a regular basis.