2009-11-14 05:58:06 - Minister of state road and transport minister Mahadev Singh Khandela on Friday laid the foundation stone for a two-lane bridge connecting India and Bangladesh over river Umngot at Dawki in Meghalaya.

The state Public Work Department Minister Martin M Danggo was also present at the foundation laying ceremony.Danggo said that the bridge will help in bridging the gap with Bangladesh. It will also help in shorten the distance and expedite trade movement.The two-lane bridge, which is also part of Prime Ministers package is estimated at the cost of Rs 23.12 crore,

will be longest bridge in Meghalaya bordering Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh needs to extend the trade relations,the road connectivity with Indian NE state of Meghalaya would help India open to Asian free trade next years thus bring prosperity to the neigbouring nations. With this bridge across the river, the distance between Shillong and Dawki will be reduced to just 84 kms. A connectivity crucial for transportation of coal and other goods, figures high on priority list.Dawki an important trade corridor between Bangladesh and the Northeastern states.Dawki bridge in India and Jamuna bridge in Bangladesh are two vital links for better connectivity with Bangladesh.

This two-lane bridge is expected to replace the single-lane 136-metre suspension bridge built by the British as the overland link between the provinces of East Bengal and Assam.

Dawki had been a thriving border down since 1948. Trade and business activities flourished between Dawki and Sylhet in East Pakistan at that point of time and continued till the formation of Bangladesh.