Commerce resumes by way of land ports alongside the India- Bangladesh border. File
| Photograph Credit score: REUTERS
As commerce resumes by way of land ports alongside the Bangladesh border, Union House Minister Amit Shah is all set to inaugurate a passenger terminal constructing and a friendship gate at Petrapole in West Bengal on Sunday (October 26, 2024). In a sign that vital administrative relations are shifting on, round 10 officers from Bangladesh’s land port authority obtained coaching in Delhi final week.
The Petrapole-Benapole (Bangladesh) border is without doubt one of the busiest land ports alongside the Bangladesh border as almost 70% of commerce between the 2 international locations takes place right here. Information obtainable with The Hindu exhibits that from October 20-25, as many as 2,635 vehicles handed by way of the land port. The variety of vehicles from India stood at 1,776, whereas these from Bangladesh was 859.
Earlier than the regime change in Bangladesh on August 5, the border noticed the motion of roughly 600-700 vehicles per day. From August 5 to August 8, within the rapid days after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina escaped to India, the variety of vehicles that moved by way of Petrapole, Agartala, Dawki, Srimatpur, and Sutarkandi stood at 277, whereas the quantity had elevated considerably to 1,028 from October 14 to October 20.
An official of the Ministry of House Affairs (MHA) stated that the present numbers present that commerce quantity is again to its common tempo.
The overall variety of cargo actions at seven land ports — Petrapole, Agartala, dawki, Srimantpur, Sutarkandi, Golakganj, and Mankachar — throughout the identical interval stood at 6,169.
Petrapole is the biggest land port in South Asia and it’s a very important gateway for commerce and commerce between India and Bangladesh. It’s also the eighth largest worldwide immigration port of India, and facilitates the motion of over 23.5 lakh passengers yearly between India and Bangladesh.
The brand new Passenger Terminal Constructing to be inaugurated on Sunday will have the ability to deal with 20,000 passengers per day.
“It’s outfitted with all trendy services corresponding to VIP lounges, Obligation free store, Foundation medical facility, Toddler/child feeding Room, Meals and drinks shops and so on….it would home immigration, customs, and safety companies below one roof,” a press release by the MHA stated.
The MHA stated that the constructing, with a built-up space of 59,800 sq. metres, will improve the journey expertise between India and Bangladesh, and can place itself as a pivotal hub in Asia.
The Maitri Dwar (friendship gate) is a joint cargo gate on the Zero Line agreed upon by each international locations. The Land Ports Authority of India has established the brand new, frequent second cargo gate named Maitri Dwar in response to the day by day cross-border visitors.
“This devoted gate for cargo motion is aimed toward easing and streamlining the move of products between the 2 nations. The introduction of Maitri Dwar is anticipated to considerably speed up the discharge and clearance of products on the border, thereby enhancing commerce effectivity,” the MHA stated.
The gate is supplied with growth limitations, facial recognition camaras, and access-controlled entry/exit factors for Indian and Bangladeshi vehicles. It will likely be a devoted gate for cargo motion.
Printed – October 26, 2024 11:08 pm IST
