(a) whether the Government of Bangladesh have extended transit facilities for the goods carried by surface water transport from West Bengal to Assam;
(b) if so, the extent to which such transit facilities are being availed of ; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to exploit this facility to obtain optimum advantage for the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SURFACE TRANSPORT
(DR. DEBENDRA PRADHAN)
(a)&(b) Yes, Sir. Cargo vessels of Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Calcutta, Government of Assam; and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation avail themselves of transit and trade facilities, under the Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol, renewed recently by India and Bangladesh.
(c) In order to have the optimum advantages by both the countries, the process of mutual dialogue is resorted to.