Trade is resuming through land ports along the India-Bangladesh border. File | Photo: REUTERS
As trade resumes across the land ports along the border with BangladeshUnion Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to inaugurate a Passenger Terminal Building and Friendship Gate at Petrapole in West Bengal on Sunday (October 26, 2024). In an indication that the necessary administrative relations are developing, about 10 officials from the Land Port Authority of Bangladesh underwent training in Delhi last week.
The Petrapol-Benapole (Bangladesh) border is one of the busiest land ports along the border with Bangladesh, as nearly 70% of trade between the two countries takes place here. Data available with The Hindu shows that from October 20 to 25, 2,635 trucks passed through the land port. The number of trucks from India is 1,776, while those from Bangladesh are 859.
Before the regime change in Bangladesh on August 5, about 600-700 trucks were moving along the border a day. From August 5 to August 8, immediately after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India, the number of trucks passing through Petrapole, Agartala, Dhauki, Shrimatpur and Sutarkandi stood at 277, while the number increased significantly to 1028 from October 14 to October 20.
An official of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the current numbers show that the trading volume has returned to its normal pace.
The total number of cargo movements at seven land ports — Petrapole, Agartala, Dauki, Srimantpur, Sutarkandi, Golakganj and Mankachar — during the same period stood at 6,169.
Petrapol is the largest land port in South Asia and is a vital gateway for trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh. It is also India’s eighth largest international immigration port and facilitates the movement of over 23.5 lakh passengers annually between India and Bangladesh.
The new passenger terminal building, which will be opened on Sunday, will be able to handle 20,000 passengers a day.
“It is equipped with all modern facilities like VIP lounges, duty free shop, primary medical facility, baby/infant feeding room, food and beverage outlets etc… will house immigration, customs and security under one roof,” MHA said in a statement.
MHA said the building with a built-up area of 59,800 square meters will enhance the travel experience between India and Bangladesh and position itself as a major hub in Asia.
Maitri Dwar (gate of friendship) is a common freight gate on the Zero Line agreed upon by both sides. The Land Port Authority of India has created a new, common second cargo gateway called Maitri Dwar in response to the daily cross-border traffic.
“This dedicated freight gateway aims to ease and streamline the flow of goods between the two nations. The introduction of Maitri Dwar is expected to significantly speed up clearance and clearance of goods at the border, thereby increasing trade efficiency,” MHA said.
The gate is equipped with boom barriers, facial recognition cameras and entry/exit checkpoints for Indian and Bangladeshi trucks. It will be a dedicated port for cargo movement.
Published – October 26, 2024, 11:08 PM IST
