ASHUGANJ: Work on the planned transshipment center here will start in November to facilitate transportation of Indian goods to their landlocked northeastern states.

Upon inauguration of the center Bangladesh government can earn Tk 20,000 crore in revenue from the transshipment haulage annually, informed Abdul Malek, Chairman of BIWTA, while visiting the proposed site for the center Sunday.

A 22-member joint team of Bangladesh and India visited the site, as preparations are afoot for granting India the much-sought-after transit to their outlying states cut off through the 1947 partition of the subcontinent at the end of British rule.

The BIWTA Chairman led a 13-member host side while Rajib Gupta, Joint Secretary of the Indian Shipping Ministry, led a nine-member Indian team for the spot survey.

The delegation visited the jetty ghat and ferry ghat of Ashuganj river port and different places along the Meghna River where the site was proposed by India for constructing the transshipment center.

Abdul Malek told banglanews24.com.bd that the initial expenditure for the scheme has been estimated at Tk 2,700 crore, but country’s economic growth would be faster on completion of the cross-border transport facility.

Malek said, “Transport cost of goods from the Indian mainland to the seven northeastern states, including Tripura, will come down to one-fourth of previous expenditure. Besides, employment will be generated for the people living in Ashuganj.”

Members of the joint team informed that three international-standard terminal jetties, customs office, BIWTA office, land-port office, container terminal, crane yard, warehouse, electric substation, truck yard, rest house and other establishments would be constructed under the scheme.

BDST: 1619 HRS, AUG 2010