Assam revives Dibrugarh cargo vessel service after decades, ship heads to Dhaka
Assam has revived a decades-old inland water transport link with the sailing of MV Patkai from Dibrugarh to Bangladesh, marking the first time since Independence that a cargo vessel has sailed from the city for a foreign destination.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday formally flagged off MV Patkai from the newly developed Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Bogibeel River Port in Dibrugarh.
The vessel is headed for Pangaon Port in Dhaka, Bangladesh, carrying 540 tonnes of methanol produced by Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited.
MV Patkai is transporting the methanol in 27 containers and will cover around 783 km through the river route. The journey is expected to take approximately seven days.
A second vessel is also scheduled to leave within the next couple of days. Together, the two vessels will carry around 1,080 tonnes of methanol from Assam to Bangladesh.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the inauguration programme virtually.DIBRUGARH’S OLD WATERWAY LINK REVIVED
The development marks a new phase for Assam’s inland waterways, trade and connectivity with Bangladesh.
Dibrugarh has a long history of inland water transport. During the British era, vessels operated from the city for commercial purposes, with a river port functioning near the Mohanaghat area.
Vessel movement from Dibrugarh subsequently came to an end.
The departure of MV Patkai from Bogibeel has now revived cargo vessel operations from the city, creating a new route for the movement of goods and strengthening Assam’s waterway connectivity with Bangladesh.BOOST TO ASSAM’S TRADE AND CONNECTIVITY
The revival of the cargo service is expected to give a push to Assam’s inland waterways, logistics and trade with Bangladesh.
The movement of methanol by river also marks the use of Assam’s waterways for commercial cargo movement to an international destination.
Several ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior government officials attended the inauguration programme.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Water Resources Minister Susanta Borgohain also spoke about the development.- Ends
