(a) the present status of shipping service from India to Bangladesh and Myanmar;
(b) whether the Government has any proposal to start a regular shipping service from India to these countries; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which the passenger and cargo traffic is likely to improve as a result thereof; and
(d) the time by which the regular service is likely to commence?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a)to(d): India and Bangladesh have a Bilateral Protocol for operation of inland vessels on the river protocol routes between river ports of Haldia, Kolkata, Pandu, Karimganj and Silghat in India and Narayanganj, Khulna, Mongla , Sirajganj and Ashuganj in Bangladesh. The river protocol between the two countries has facilitated the movement of Exim cargo as well as cargo bound to the North Eastern States through the protocol route.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has started an India-Myanmar Service by in-chartering vessel SCI Kamal on 29-09-2014. The service has completed five voyages as on 03-01-2015.