After Chabahar, India in talks to develop port in Bangladesh

Kolkata - New Delhi focusing on port-led development; governments exploring options

India is in talks with Bangladesh to explore the possibility of developing a port in the neighbouring country, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
"Presently, the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of External Affairs are in talks with Bangladesh government to explore options in Bangladesh to develop a port. The Bangladesh government has been showing interest about it and is keen to work with us," the Union Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Minister said, but declined to give details.
India recently concluded the Chabahar port development agreement with Iran. He described the agreement as a "game-changer".
"Gas is cheaper in Iran, while in our country we have a shortage of gas. The proposed Chabahar port will give direct access for Indian goods to the markets in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, bypassing Pakistan," he said.
Gadkari said that new greenfield ports will be set up at Wadhawan, near Dahanu in Maharashtra, Colachel near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Sagar Island in West Bengal.
"In the Sagarmala project, there will be an investment of Rs12 lakh crore. Rs4 lakh crore investment will come in port-led rail and road connectivity and mechanisation of coal. Twenty-seven industrial clusters which will be coming up will entail Rs8 lakh crore investments," he said.
"We set a target to create four crore jobs with an investment of Rs25 lakh crore to roads and shipping sectors," he said.
The country is focusing on port-led development. "Currently, logistics costs in India is about 18 per cent, while it is eight per cent in China and 10-12 per cent in Europe. Our focus is to bring down to the logistic cost to 12 per cent."

• Infrastructure