Tripura MP Biplab Deb asks Centre to make Maitri Setu operational

Former Chief Minister and now Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb raised the demand for quickly starting the India-Bangladesh Maitri Setu built on river Feni on Tuesday in the parliament.

He said that Tripura could not obtain the SOP benefits through which Tripura could access Chittagong and Mongla ports that has been permitted. Biplab Deb urged the Department of External Affairs to speak with the Bangladesh government so that the Maitri bridge operations can be started quickly.

MP Biplab Deb said, “India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had virtually inaugurated the Maitri Bridge on March 09, 2021. However, Land Customs office on behalf of Bangladesh is not yet opened and because of this Tripura could not access the benefits of this great project.”

He further stated that although the state government of Tripura already informed the matter regarding this, the Maitri Bridge’s operation not yet started.

Biplab Kumar Deb said that all necessary facilities have already been established by the Indian government, but work related to Land Customs station of the Bangladesh government has been stopped.

Therefore, Biplab Deb urged the Department of External Affairs through the Rajya Sabha house of parliament to initiate talks with the Bangladesh government to start the Maitri Bridge operations or address the gaps in the project so that the cross-border transportation with minimum passengers can be started.
He further argued that initiating the operations of the Maitri Bridge will benefit various North-eastern states including Tripura and it will also increase economic activities between India and Bangladesh.