The Hindu Business Line : Gateway to the North East

The significant strategic aspect of the State's location is that Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides; and it shares a 856 km-long international border. The State's location and socio-economic linkages with Bangladesh position Tripura to be the potential hub for trade with and through Bangladesh for the entire North-Eastern India.

Development of transit and trans-shipment facilities via plains in Bangladesh and Tripura can help Bangladesh access and derive further economic advantages from a market that is estimated to be Rs 20,000 crore ($5 b or 5 times the trade deficit of Bangladesh with India).

The major exports include rubber sheets, fresh fruits (orange, jackfruit, pineapple, grapes), fish (Rui, katla), onion, ginger, coal, dry fish, and chocolates. The imports include bricks, raw jute, stone chips, fruit juices, zamdani saree, fish (Hilsa), processed food, dry fish, dried chilli and MS Rod.

Land Customs Stations

The State Government, with active support from the Union Government, has taken steps to improve the infrastructure of the Land Customs Station (LCS). In the first phase, setting up of the Integrated Development Complex with all facilities under one roof at two LCS — Agartala LCS and Srimantapur LCS — out of four operational LCS have been taken up. There are 7 notified LCS in Tripura. A brief on the Agartala and Srimantapur LCS:

Agartala LCS

Existing infrastructure — Customs and Immigration Office, approach road, electronic weigh bridge, foreign exchange counter, electricity, telecom facility, etc.

Infrastructure developments in progress — Two-storied customs and immigration building, including an Inspection Bay for customs clearance, warehouse, clearing agent's building, cafeteria, post office, bank, etc.

Proposed infra-development in pipeline — Separate import and export zone, passenger transit facility, damp yard, overhead footbridge, trucker's rest room

Srimantapur LCS

Existing infrastructure — Customs and immigration office, electronic weigh bridge, electricity, telecom facility, etc.

Infrastructure developments in progress — Approach road

Proposed infra-development in pipeline — Customs and immigration building, warehouse, more electronic weigh bridges, separate import and export zone, passenger transit facility, damp yard, bus parking, truck parking and drivers facility, covered area for passenger transit, clearing agent's building, etc.

It is also felt that if Bangladesh allows — access to Chittagong Port; declares Ashuganj in Bangladesh as port of call; operationalises IWT protocol with regard to Sherpur port; gives consent for construction of a bridge over Feni, Agartala (Tripura)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link — a vista would be opened in trade relations not only between Tripura and Bangladesh but also with the entire North Eastern region. — Our Bureau

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