Union Minister Shantanu Thakur laid the foundation stone for a single-lane bridge over the Ichamati River in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. The bridge, which is being built by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Swarupnagar at an estimated cost of Rs 160 million, will ensure safer transit and improve river navigation, according to a statement.

Thakur, the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, emphasized that the government is committed to developing infrastructure and strengthening the state's waterways network.

The minister also revealed that the government is actively considering the construction of another bridge at Taranipur under the Sagarmala Project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1.36 billion.

He further noted that the development of National Waterways 44, which involves dredging operations and the installation of navigational aids, is part of the government’s broader initiative to promote inland water transport and sustainable development in the region.

Thakur also mentioned that cargo traffic on national waterways had grown significantly, increasing from 18 million tonnes in 2014 to 133 million tonne by the end of FY2023-24.

The release also mentioned that to ease traffic congestion at the Ghojadanga, Bhomra, and Petrapole integrated check posts (ICPs), India and Bangladesh have formed a joint technical committee. The committee will conduct a feasibility study on the navigability of the Ichamati River and explore its inclusion as a new route under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWT&T).

The statement further added that the proposed Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) will span 170.38 km, connecting Hemnagar, Kalanchi, and Khedapara.