Can trade in the Northeast boom with Integrated Check Posts?

NEW DELHI: At present exports from the Northeast region is suboptimal and concentrated in a few States. Out of total exports from eight Northeastern States, valued at US $ 455.2 million in 2020-21, Assam alone accounted for US $ 415.6 million. This is in sharp contrast to its potential, as the region has 98 percent borders with neighbouring countries.

Dhubri, Assam: Dhubri, situated about 244 km west from Dispur, the capital of Assam, has a river port known as Dhubri Steamer Ghat on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, and also a Land Customs Station. It does not have an ICP at the moment. However, its locational advantage makes it a good case for exploring the possibility of setting up a multi-modal ICP. Dhubri port is well connected by diverse modes of transportation, including roadways, waterways, railways and airways. NH-17, which starts from its junction with NH-10 at Sevoke, Darjeeling in West Bengal, passes through the Siliguri, Golakganj, and Dhubri districts before terminating at Guwahati in Assam. In Guwahati, it connects with NH-27, which starts from Gujarat in western India and terminates at Silchar in Assam, thereby connecting many other States of west and north India with the North-East. Bordering Bangladesh, Dhubri river port has operational waterways connectivity. This port on the National Waterway 2 (the river Brahmaputra) along the India-Bangladesh Protocol Routes 7 and 8 is connected with Chilmari in Bangladesh, and further to Haldia and Kolkata Ports, wherein it connects with the National Waterway 1 (the river Ganga). As per available information, the Inland Waterways Authority of India is planning to run a fixed schedule sailing between NW1 and NW2, heralding a new era of inland water transport for Assam and other parts of Northeast India. The vessel movement has already been started. Recently, MV Lal Bhadur Shastri, a self-propelled vessel carrying 200 metric tonnes of rice, started its journey from Patna on NW1 and passed through Bhagalpur, Manihari, Sahibganj, Farakka, Tribeni, Kolkata, Haldia, Hemnagar in India and then through the India-Bangladesh Protocol Route through Khulna, Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Chilmari in Bangladesh and finally on NW2 through Dhubri and Jogighopa. The vessel reached Pandu port in 25 days, covering a distance of 2,350 km. Dhubri post is also an important port for third-country trade. Third-country goods from Bhutan are sent to Chilmari, Bangladesh through this port. With regard to railway connectivity, Dhubri is well-connected with Guwahati in the east and New Cooch Behar in the west. In order to establish connectivity with the upcoming Jogighopa Multi-modal Logistics Park, a new line is being laid down. Furthermore, the Alipurduar Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway has started operating goods train through the newly-constructed New Cooch Behar-Gauripur-Abhayapuri-Goalpara section, which is a part of the New Maynaguri-Jogighopa railway line project. The nearest airport to Dhubri is the Rupsi Airport, which is presently operating under the UDAN (Ude Desh ki Aam Nagarik) initiative. This airport has connectivity with Kolkata, West Bengal and Guwahati, Assam. In short, the opportunity for realizing optimal trade potential on Northeast India hinges on efficient inter-regional and intra-regional transport connectivity and logistics. Strengthening existing ICPs by connecting them with various modes of transportation, and also transforming some locationally-critical Land Custom Stations to ICPs, holds the key. These three locations should be considered for converting them from single-mode ICPs/LCS to multi-modal ICPs. (IANS) (CONCLUDED)

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