Ashuganj-Akhaura road development work soon: ONGC’s power project in Tripura

ANIS ALAMGIR

Renovation and development of the 50 kilometre-long Ashuganj-Akhaura road will begin shortly opening the way for carrying 93 heavy consignments of power generation equipment for the upcoming 740 MW power project in Tripura. The development work will include upgrading the existing road, construction of bridges and diversion of roads where necessary.
Bangladesh has agreed in principle to allow India to use its designated waterways and road to transport heavy machines for the Tripura power project. The gas-based project, the biggest ever to be set up by the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ( ONGC), is coming up in south Tripura's Palatana, about 60 kilometres from Agartala, the state capital, and is expected to be operational by 2012.
While the ONGC will carry out the work, Bangladesh engineers will supervise it. Talking to The Independent, an official of the ministry of shipping confirmed that the ONGC would appoint all contractors, but Bangladeshi engineers would supervise their work. The Indian Oil and Gas Corporation would award contracts to Indian as well as Bangladeshi contractors to do the construction and repair work on the basis of eligibility.
At a recent meeting, the ministry of shipping prepared a draft memorandum of understanding which will become effective after getting the nod from the Prime Minister's Office.
The ministry also decided to start development work of the Ashuganj port, located in the Meghna river delta, which ultimately will become the main hub of transporting Indian goods. According to the plan, Indian goods will be carried through the new route - Kolkata-Holdia-Raimongal-Mongla-Kaukhali-Barisal-Hizla-Chandpur-Narayangang-Boirabbazar-Ashuganj. From Ashuganj, goods would be carried in Bangladesh trucks and tractor-trailers to the Akhaura-Agartala border.
The fate of the Tripura mega power project had looked gloomy as transportation of heavy machinery, including turbines, by surface through the mountainous northeastern states was extremely difficult. The ONGC now will ship ODCs (Over Dimensional Cargo) from the Haldia port in West Bengal to Ashuganj of Bangladesh by waterway and from there to Pallatana in Tripura state through the Ashuganj-Akhaura road.
According to the Bangladesh-India joint communiqué signed in January, India would make the necessary investment for the purpose of ODCs' transfer. It also mentioned, "Contractors from both countries shall be eligible for the work."
However, till date it is not clear whether India will offer financial assistance for the development of the road or not. The Bangladesh government in the meantime has taken up another 33.82 million US dollar project for upgradation of the road between Sarail to the Akhaura land port as national highway. This money is part of the US$ one billion Indian loan.
India is keen that Bangladesh starts renovation and development works on the Ashuganj-Akhaura road by the end of this monsoon period so that it can send 93 heavy consignments of power generation equipment to Tripura by early November.

published on 23 august the independent