Maitri Setu, Border Haats and Agartala–Akhura Railway Link Await Full Operationalisation Amid Uncertain Bilateral Relations

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 12, 2026

Bangladesh’s representation at the upcoming BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi has drawn attention to the uncertain future of several long-pending cross-border connectivity and trade initiatives involving Tripura and Bangladesh. With the Bangladesh Home Minister reportedly not participating in the meeting, questions have emerged over whether the forum will provide any opportunity to address the outstanding issues affecting road, rail and commercial links between the two neighbouring countries.

According to reports, the meeting of Home Ministers from the seven member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 13, following preparatory discussions among senior officials on Monday, October 12. Bangladesh is expected to be represented by a senior official of its Home Ministry rather than its Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, while Home Ministry Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury is reportedly leading the Bangladeshi delegation. The final composition of the delegation and the official agenda will determine whether the concerns surrounding bilateral connectivity receive attention.

BIMSTEC, established through the Bangkok Declaration on June 6, 1997, seeks to strengthen regional cooperation across the Bay of Bengal region. Its seven members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The organisation’s secretariat is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

However, for Tripura, the significance of regional cooperation extends beyond diplomatic meetings. Several important infrastructure projects intended to facilitate cross-border movement, trade and economic development are either awaiting full operationalisation or remain affected by uncertainties surrounding bilateral cooperation.

Maitri Setu: Infrastructure Ready, Connectivity Still Uncertain

One of the most significant projects is Maitri Setu, the bridge over the Feni River connecting Sabroom in southern Tripura with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. The bridge was inaugurated in March 2021 and was designed to improve connectivity between northeastern India and Bangladesh, while potentially providing access to the Chattogram port region.

Despite the completion of the bridge, its anticipated benefits for Tripura have yet to be fully realised through regular cross-border movement and commercial operations. The delay has raised questions about the coordination, administrative arrangements and bilateral agreements required to make the infrastructure commercially functional.

For Tripura, the operationalisation of Maitri Setu could strengthen Sabroom’s position as a gateway for trade and logistics, reduce transportation constraints and create opportunities for local businesses. Continued uncertainty, however, limits the economic returns expected from the project.

Border Haats Remain a Missed Opportunity for Local Trade

The non-operational status of the two India–Bangladesh Border Haats in Tripura, the Kamalasagar–Tarapur Haat in the Sepahijala district area and the Srinagar–Chhoyghoria Haat in South Tripura, has also become a concern.

Border Haats were established to promote small-scale cross-border trade, particularly benefiting farmers, artisans, traders and residents of border communities. Their continued closure means that infrastructure created to facilitate local commerce remains underutilised.

The absence of regular operations deprives border residents of an important channel for selling locally produced goods and purchasing permitted products from across the border. Reviving these markets would require mutual agreement, administrative coordination and decisions by the authorities on both sides.

Agartala–Akhura Railway Link Awaits Its Full Potential

The Agartala–Akhura railway link represents another major component of the proposed connectivity network between northeastern India and Bangladesh. The cross-border railway project was developed to connect Agartala with Bangladesh’s railway network, with the potential to facilitate passenger and freight movement and strengthen regional trade.

Although the infrastructure has been inaugurated, the development of regular cross-border railway services and the full commercial utilisation of the link depend on operational arrangements and cooperation between the two countries.

For Tripura, the railway connection could provide an additional route for trade and transportation, complementing existing road and air connectivity. Uncertainty over regular services has therefore raised concerns about when the state will be able to realise the full benefits of this investment.

Agartala Airport and Road Connectivity Add to Tripura’s Strategic Importance

Tripura has also developed air connectivity through Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala, alongside its road network and other transport infrastructure. The airport is an important link between the state and major Indian cities, while improved cross-border road, rail and port access could strengthen Tripura’s wider economic integration.

The broader objective has been to position Tripura as a connectivity hub linking northeastern India with Bangladesh and, through Bangladesh, markets and transport infrastructure in the wider region.

However, domestic transport infrastructure alone cannot deliver the full benefits of international connectivity. Cross-border access requires agreements, clearances, security arrangements, customs procedures and coordinated decisions by the governments concerned.

Consequently, the completion of infrastructure does not automatically translate into functioning international transport and trade corridors.

Bilateral Relations and Regional Economic Competition

The status of these projects has become particularly important amid strains in India–Bangladesh relations following political changes in Bangladesh. Differences between the governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the current Bangladeshi administration have complicated the wider political environment in which bilateral cooperation is being pursued.

While connectivity and trade projects involve multiple administrative and commercial considerations, the broader diplomatic relationship can influence the pace of decisions on transit, customs, transport services and cross-border commerce.

For Tripura, the concern is that prolonged delays could undermine the economic rationale behind investments made to improve regional connectivity. Businesses, transport operators, traders and investors need predictable rules and functioning transport routes before they can plan large-scale commercial activities.

At the same time, China has continued to expand its economic and commercial engagement with Bangladesh. Chinese investment, infrastructure cooperation and trade have become important elements of Bangladesh’s external economic relations. Any assessment of the implications for India, however, needs to distinguish documented Chinese commercial activity from claims that China is benefiting directly from the delays affecting Tripura’s connectivity projects.

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