Srinagar in Tripura declared as Customs Station

By Vijay Kumar

GOVERNMENT has amended Notification No. 63/1994-CUSTOMS (NT) dated the 21st November, 1994, to notify Srinagar in the Srinagar (Tripura)- midpoint between Purbamadhugram and Choygharia, Border Pillar No. 2195/5S and 6S as a Customs Station for import of small items from Bangladesh through the Border Haat. On 6th January, the Government had notified the Customs exemption for these goods. (Please see DDT 2513 .)

The Haat was inaugurated two days ago by Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, India's Minister of State for Commerce and Mr. Tofail Ahmed, Bangladesh Commerce Minister Ms Sitharaman said that Tripura, located in an advantageous position in respect of strategic, diplomatic and economic relations with Bangladesh, is likely to become the gateway in tandem with implementation of the ‘Act East' policy adopted by the Government of India. She further said that the Centre intended to move for development of Bangladesh through Tripura.

Tripura Chief Minister Mr. Manik Sarkar made a plea to the governments of both countries to provide transit facility using Ashuganj and Chittagong sea ports in Bangladesh. He said if allowing transit facility is not possible, trans-shipment facility could be taken into consideration.

This is the third India-Bangladesh Border Haat. The other two are at Kalaichar (India) - Baliamari (Bangladesh) and at Balat (India) - Dolora (Bangladesh) on the Meghalaya - Bangladesh border. Construction of the fourth Border Haat at Kamlasagar (Tripura) - TarapurKashba (Brahmanbaria District) is in progress.

Notification No. 08/2015 -Cus(NT)., Dated: January 09, 2015