Long voyage of a gas turbine

The India-Bangladesh border check-post at Agartala, Tripura, has witnessed the arrival of a 280-tonne gas turbine to be used in the construction of the 726-MW gas-based power project being set up by Oil & Natural Gas Corporation at Palatana, about 60 km from the State Capital.

What is significant is the multi-modal transportation of this huge consignment, which originated in the US for ultimate delivery in a remote corner in the North-East.

river route

The consignment first arrived at Kolkata port by ship for a second round of loading into barges for transportation by the river route through Bangladesh.

The barge movement thus was between Kolkata port and Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh.

The authorities concerned had no other choice but to opt for river transportation through Bangladesh as the present road and rail connectivity (including bridges and culverts) between Kolkata and Tripura does not support movement of such a huge load.

At Ashuganj, the consignment was unloaded from barges and re-loaded into heavy-duty trailers for transportation by road to Agartala for onward movement to Palatana.

The Chief Minister of Tripura, Mr Manik Sarkar, the Power Minister, Mr Manik Dey, the Chief Secretary, Dr S.K. Panda, and the Chairman of ABC India Ltd, Mr Anand Agarwal, and other dignitaries were present when the consignment from Ashuganj arrived at Agartala.

Use of Bangla port, road

ABC India, a multi-modal transport operator, is responsible for transportation through Bangladesh of the entire volume of ODC (over dimensional cargo) being required for the project.

treaty

The movement through Bangladesh has been possible following a treaty signed by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh in January 2010. The treaty allows India, for the first time, to use Bangladesh port and road for transportation of goods to the North-East.

In all, 93 pieces totalling about 12,000 tonnes of consignments of various dimensions and weight will be moved through Bangladesh for the Palatana project.

About 11 pieces totalling around 2,000 tonnes have already been moved. Monday's consignment was the single largest (also the heaviest) consignment so far.

Mr Agarwal, talking to Business Line from Tripura, hoped that, barring unforeseen developments, the delivery of all 93 pieces should be over by June this year, before the monsoon breaks out.

The transportation through Bangladesh started in December last year, he said, expressing gratitude to the Bangladesh Government for allowing his company's vehicles to operate within that country and offering other assistance.

A total of seven heavy-duty trailers, to increase to 10 shortly, are engaged in the transportation of ODC cargo between Ashuganj and Palatana, a distance of 108 km.

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