New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) For the first time ever, an Indian waterway is being used as a channel for transport of cargo between two countries, using India for transit as Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge) Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday digitally flagged-off a ship of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, carrying stone from Bhutan to be delivered in Bangladesh.
Mr Mandaviya said this new development will not only strengthen our ties with our neighbouring countries, but will also open up an alternate route to our North Eastern states, making it easier and cheaper to reach goods to these places from other parts of the country.
The ship - MV AAI - has set sail from Dhubri in Assam and will travel to Narayanganj in Bangladesh, over river Brahmaputra and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. This is the first time an Indian waterway is being used as a channel for transport of cargo between two countries, using India for transit.