In an effort to create a hassle-free and potent Internet link for the northeastern states, union Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday laid the foundation stone in Agartala for an international Internet gateway through Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, Reports IANS, (Indo-Asian News Service).

Agartala, Tripura's capital city, would be the third international Internet gateway in India after Mumbai and Chennai.

"After the establishment of the optical fibre cable (OFC) link between Akhaura (along Agartala) and Cox's Bazar, there would not only be a sea change in the Internet and telecommunication connectivity in northeast India, but the other parts of the country would also be benefited by getting additional Internet bandwidth," BSNL chief general manager (NE one circle) D.P. Singh said.

The official also said the central government would spend Rs. 19.14 crore to create the infrastructure, including laying of OFC to avail the 10 gigabit bandwidth from Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).

Singh said: "India had to give around Rs. 8 crore per year as rental fee to BSCCL to avail the telecommunication linkages."

In the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, an agreement was signed in Dhaka on June 6 between BSCCL and BSNL for leasing of international bandwidth for Internet at Akhaura.

Akhaura is the second largest trading point and check post between India and Bangladesh after Petrapole-Benapole trade centre and check post along West Bengal.

"After more than four years of diplomatic and political parleys, the deal was signed between BSCCL and BSNL. The new system would be operationalise after laying the necessary OFC by January next year," the BSNL official added.

Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, BSNL chairman cum managing director Anupam Srivastava were among others present in the foundation stone laying ceremony.

The BSNL official said so far northeastern states have been getting Internet connectivity through Mumbai and Chennai international Internet gateway but the distance was creating lots of problems, including very weak speed and drop of linkages.

"The Internet connectivity from Bangladesh would be unimpeded and have high-speed with large bandwidth besides most reliable."

Chief Minister Sarkar had written letters to Prime Minister Modi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh on a number of occasions for alternative telecom routing through Bangladesh for improving feeble telecommunication facilities in the northeast region.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company has to lay optical fibre cable of the 30 km distance from Brahmanbaria to Akhaura, which adjoins Agartala, while the BSNL will set up international long distance (ILD) gateway at Agartala along with associated equipment.

India had set up a multi-purpose integrated check post at a cost of around Rs. 80 crore in Agartala adjacent to Akhaura. The Indian government has also embarked upon to lay 15 km railway track to link Agartala railway station with Akhaura railway station in eastern Bangladesh.

IANS, (Indo-Asian News Service)