Trial run round the corner: Official team visits Sonamura

A team of officials under the leadership of secretary Industries and Commerce Kiran Gitte paid a visit to the makeshift jetty set up at Sonamura to assess the ground situation. As the first consignment of goods is expected to reach here on June 05 next, the preparations of the welcome ceremony are running in war footing. But has emerged as a big concern is the Covid 19 situation.

The administration will be drawing up special operating procedures for the programmes to be held on the trade beginning day. 

Gitte on the sidelines of his visit said, “we are very much hopeful of the project. There are talks of installing a permanent structure here to ensure uninterrupted trade. But there is a lot to do and if everything falls in the right direction, things will turn positive in the days to come”. 

On being asked about the ceremony, he said, this project will bring a long lasting impact on the trade of Tripura. Certainly, there are limitations but there are plans to settle everything. All the stake holding departments will surely remain present on the programme and there is anticipation of someone’s arrival from the Bangladesh side but it is still to be finalized, he added. 

He said, “if the trade begins here and profit starts to run high, both the governments will start thinking of settling the long pending issues. There are talks to bring engineering innovations as per the need to develop the route for plying of larger barges and commercial boats. However, first of all the trial has to be completed successfully”. 

Apart from him, manager Akhaura land port Debasish Nandi, officials from various wings and line department have also remained present during the visit.