India and Bangladesh will establish a new waterway between the countries using the Brahmaputra river which expects to complete within next year.
"India and Bangladesh governments have signed an agreement to establish the new waterways between the two countries using the Brahmaputra river," Indian Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the media on Saturday.
"Indian government would dredge the Brahmaputra river on its side and the Bangladesh authority would dredge the river on their side. We expect that within the next one year. The new waterway would be operational and it would boost the trade and people to people contact," he added.
India and Bangladesh shared 2,979km land border and 1,116km of riverine boundary. They also share 54 common rivers, including the Brahmaputra.
India has approved 16 waterway projects, mostly involving Bangladesh, prioritising water connectivity in its northeastern region.
According to Samarjit Bhowmik, transport secretary of Tripura, the state government had submitted proposals to develop waterways between Tripura's Gomati and Howrah and rivers in Bangladesh.
Since 1972, four inland water routes between India and Bangladesh are currently operational, Kolkata-Pandu (in southern Assam) via Bangladesh, Kolkata-Karimganj (in southern Assam) via Bangladesh, Rajshahi-Dhulian (in southern Assam) and Karimganj-Pandu-Karimganj via Bangladesh.
