Calcutta: Tata Motors has taken the water route to send trucks to Bangladesh in a bid to protect its market share in the neighbouring country from the Chinese auto makers.

The company sent 240 commercial vehicles by a ship from the Calcutta port after failing to deliver them by road because of the congestion at the India-Bangladesh border, despite the higher cost involved in water.

The Tatas have committed themselves to send around 1,000 units a month to Bangladesh through the waterways, Vinit Kumar, chairman of the Calcutta Port Trust (CPT), said after sending off the first consignment on Wednesday.

"We are expecting the next set of vehicles to be shipped later this month. There is going to be around 4-5 such shipment from this port," Kumar said.

The trucks, manufactured by Tata Motors at its Jamshedpur and Pantnagar plants, were shipped to Bangladesh's Mongla port from berth number 2 of Netaji Subhash Dock of Calcutta Dock System in vessel M.V. IDM Doodle. The voyage is expected to be complete within a day.

Abdul Matlub Ahmad, chairman of Nitol Niloy Group, the overseas distributor for Tata Motors in Bangladesh, said demand has outstripped supply in his country due to the congestion at land port near Bongaon in Bengal.

"On one hand there is high demand of trucks and on the other hand, there is delay in movement through the land port of around 15-25 days (Petrapole). The shipment of trucks through water is a wonderful idea. It takes less time and will help to meet the present demand," Ahmad told The Telegraph.

"Unless the Indian manufacturers are able to meet the demand, Chinese firms will gradually move in," Ahmad said. He added that freight costs at present are high by the Ro-Ro service, but there is a scope for the waterways to emerge as an alternative.

Kumar said the port would approach other automakers if the Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) service becomes popular. Specially designed ships are required for carrying such over-dimensional cargo. Moreover, the port needs to keep vacant space to keep the trucks on its premises before loading.

The shipping ministry has been trying to promote the waterways, including inland waterways to move trucks and cars. A car maker had once sent a consignment of small cars on barges to Calcutta .

Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari had flagged off a consignment of 185 trucks of Ashok Leyland from Chennai for Mongla on October 30.