Previous Year Question
First ever containership from Kolkata Port to Agartala was sent through which one of the following Ports of Bangladesh in July 2020?
Benapole
Maloti
Payra
Chattogram (Chittagong)
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
On 16 July 2020, the first trial container ship from Kolkata to Agartala was flagged off through the Chattogram Port of Bangladesh.
This movement was carried out under the agreement between India and Bangladesh for the movement of India's transit cargo through the Chattogram and Mongla Ports.
The trial consignment included two TEUs of TMT steel bars destined for West Tripura and two TEUs of pulses destined for Karimganj, Assam. After reaching Chattogram, the cargo was to move further towards Agartala through Bangladeshi trucks.
A major objective of this route was to provide an alternative and relatively shorter connectivity route to India's North-Eastern Region. It offered the possibility of reducing the distance and time required for transporting goods to the North-East.