India is planning to establish a port in Bangladesh, says the Minister for Shipping, Nitin Gadkari.
A high-level committee will be sent to the neighbouring country in this regard. "A shipping ministry delegation led by a joint secretary will visit Bangladesh next week to study the site and prepare a detailed project report," he said.
A final decision will be taken after the recommendations from the committee, and investment proposals will be finalised only after that.
However, a senior official said the proposal is to set up a port at Payra in Bangladesh and a detailed project report is ready.
Apart from Bangladesh, India has expressed keenness to develop ports for various countries, including Africa and Iran.
"During the recent summit of heads of African nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed desire that India can join hands with various African nations for building roads and ports. My ministry will take up such works once the responsibility is given to us," Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
About Chabahar port in Iran, he said India is eyeing investments there and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is on a visit to Iran with a high-level delegation, including road transport and highways ministry officials.
India has already pledged investment of about Rs 2 lakh crore in developing the strategic port in Iran, which would provide India a sea-land access route to Afghanistan.