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New Maia Riverine Port Opens Between India & Bangladesh: 930 km Shortcut Boost Trade?

Maia Riverine Port
The Maia Riverine Port in West Bengal, India opens on February 12, 2024. It connects India and Bangladesh by inland waterways. India’s Minister of State for Ports, Ships, and Waterways flags off the first test cargo ships.
The main reason India built this port was to improve trade and transport links with neighboring Bangladesh. India’s Act East Policy aims to increase ties between India and east Asian countries.
The new water route from Maia Port to Bangladesh via the rivers shortens the distance by 930 km compared to current paths between the two countries. This makes transporting goods across the border by boat faster and cheaper.
New Maia Riverine Port Waterway Route Details
The new waterway connects the Maia River Port in West Bengal, India to the Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh. A government notification states it covers 16 kilometers total along the rivers. Of this, 4.5 kilometers is in India and 11.5 kilometers passes through Bangladesh.
This river route connects to other waterways between the two countries under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) which India and Bangladesh use to cooperate on river shipping.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, in 2021, India exported USD 14.1 billion worth of goods to Bangladesh, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported that Bangladesh’s imports from India totaled USD 1.86 billion in 2021.
The new Maia Riverine Port route using boats will surely cut costs and pollution for transporting exports like stone and steel. The river shortcut saves money compared to trucking products 930 extra kilometers around the Bay of Bengal.

Flagging Off Ceremony
On February 12, 2024, India’s Minister of State for Ports flags off the first ships from the Maia River Port.
Background
The direct inland shipping route between the Maia Port and Bangladesh is part of trade commitments between the two countries. In September 2022, the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh met to discuss improving economic ties.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Bangladesh’s leader Sheikh Hasina to visit India. During her trip, the two agreed to start exploring direct shipping links as a way to boost trade.
The new river transit route via Maia Port, connects back to this high-level commitment made between the nations. Opening the shortcut for ships shows improved political and economic relations between India and Bangladesh.
Officail Maia Riverine Port Notification Details
In September 2023, India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs officially designates Maia in West Bengal as a Land Customs Station (Notification No. 66/2023-Customs). This means it is now an approved port for importing and exporting goods.
The notification provides specifics for processing trade shipments properly at the new freight terminal. It defines the geographic boundaries of the customs clearance area using GPS coordinates.
The notice also references rules that Maia River Port must follow as an international trade hub. It states that customs procedures will comply with India’s Customs Act from 1962. This law sets guidelines for inspecting and taxing incoming and outgoing cargo.
What is the purpose of the new Maia River route?
The purpose of the new Maia river route is to improve trade and connectivity between India and Bangladesh by providing a shorter inland waterway link between the two countries.