New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated three Indian assisted development projects on November 1 via video conferencing.
The three projects were Akhaura - Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link; Khulna - Mongla Port Rail Line; and Unit – II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant.
Prime Minister Modi posted on X about the inaugurations and wrote: "Our partnership with Bangladesh is a key aspect of our Neighbourhood First policy and we are dedicated to further strengthen it."
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also posted in a thread on X about the programme:
"🇮🇳🇧🇩| Scripting a new chapter in connectivity!
PM @narendramodi & PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh jointly inaugurated three crucial infrastructure projects bolstering power and railways connectivity in the region:
🔹Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link
🔹Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line
🔹Unit-II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant"
"🎥Take a quick look at these projects which will invigorate sub-regional trade & connectivity and boost energy security."
High Commission of India in Bangladesh also took the X and posted in Bangla
"প্রধানমন্ত্রী @narendramodi ও বাংলাদেশের প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা যৌথভাবে তিনটি অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অবকাঠামো প্রকল্পের উদ্বোধন করেছেন যা এই অঞ্চলে বিদ্যুৎ ও রেল কানেক্টিভিটি বৃদ্ধি করে:
আখাউড়া - আগরতলা রেল সংযোগ, খুলনা - মোংলা রেললাইন
মৈত্রী পাওয়ার প্ল্যান্টের ইউনিট - ২"
"The Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link project has been executed under Government of India grant assistance of INR 392.52 crore extended to Bangladesh. The length of the rail link is 12.24 km with a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier (on October 31) said in a statement.
While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier (on October 31) further said in its statement that the Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line Project has been implemented under Government of India concessional Line of Credit with a total project cost of USD 388.92 million. The project entails construction of approximately 65 kms of broad gauge rail route between Mongla Port and the existing rail network in Khulna. With this, Mongla, the second largest port of Bangladesh, gets connected with the broad-gauge railway network.
Earlier (on October 31), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also mentioned in its statement that the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project under Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of USD 1.6 billion, is a 1320 MW (2x660) Super Thermal Power Plant (MSTPP) located in Rampal in Khulna Division of Bangladesh. The project has been implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Private) Limited (BIFPCL), which is a 50:50 Joint Venture company between India's NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). Unit I of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant was unveiled jointly by both Prime Ministers in September 2022 and Unit 2 will be inaugurated on 1 November 2023. The operationalization of Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant will enhance energy security in Bangladesh.
"These projects will strengthen connectivity and energy security in the region", the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier (on October 31) said.
