New Delhi, India (BBN)-Preparations are underway in Bangladesh and India ahead of launching of internet bandwidth from Bangladesh and supply of 100 MW power to Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina would jointly launch them at 10am on March 23 through video conference, which will also be attended by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, reports The Hindu.
National Informatics Centre (NIC) which is arranging video linkage between New Delhi, Dhaka and Agartala conducted link test on Monday.
“We have successfully completed tests at around 11.30am and everything is in fine shape”, a senior NIC official told The Hindu.
BSNL and the OTPC (ONGC Tripura Power Corporation) have also unleashed activities for smooth operation of power supply from 726MW gas based power plant at Palatana to Commilla grid in Bangladesh and import of 10 GB internet bandwidth from Coxbazar in Bangladesh to Agartala. Top officials of both PSUs are currently camping in Tripura to ensure snag free arrangements.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina during her visit to Agartala in 2012 made a request for supply of 100MW power from Palatana project.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was first to concede to the demand which was subsequently cleared by the central government.
Bangladesh showed specific interest in Palatana as plant turbines and oversized equipments were ferried through Bangladesh waterways under an interim transit facility.
Bridges and culverts on the Assam – Agartala national highway were too weak to bear load of the machineries forcing India to seek help from Bangladesh.
On the other Tripura initially and northeast India gradually would get uninterrupted internet services after launching of international gateway third after that of Mumbai and Chennai.
BSNL had signed a deal with Submarine Cable Company Limited of Bangladesh (BSCCL) which would provide high speed internet bandwidth from Cox Bazar in southeast Bangladesh.
BSNL is spending Rs. 20 crore for the project installation and is to pay Rs. 7.2 crore annually to BSCCL for hiring bandwidth as per the MOU between two countries signed during visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dhaka last year. BSNL already conducted Acceptance Testing after completing OFC joint at Akhaura border in Agartala.
BBN/SK/AD