DHAKA: Neighboring India asked Bangladesh to permit a shipment of 35,000 tonnes of PDS foodgrains every month via sea route.

The country requested in view of difficulty to be faced from October with the start of gauge conversion work in North East, The India Times reports on Monday.

"During a recent visit to Bangladesh, we requested it to allow transportation of 35,000 tonnes of PDS foodgrains every month via sea route to the north eastern states," an Indian senior Food Ministry official said, the report added.

However, a trial run to see the practicality of shipping has already been undertaken.

Earlier, the first shipment of 5,000 tonnes of rice has already reached Agartala from Visakhapattanam, Andhra Pradesh via Ashuganj port in Bangladesh, the official said, adding that another vessel of 5,000 tonnes will be followed.

From October 1, there will megablock of railways at Lumding in Assam for gauge conversion work affecting foodgrains movement. The shipment of foodgrains via Bangladesh would help ease burden of transporting via roadways.

The government supplies monthly about one lakh tonnes of PDS foodgrains to the north eastern states -- Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Assam. Of which, 60 per cent is transported via railways and the rest through roadways.

BDST: 1232 HRS, AUG 11, 2014