India on Sunday opened an integrated check post, passenger terminal building and a joint cargo gate named Maitri Dwar at the Petrapole in West Bengal to improve cross-border trade and immigration infrastructure.
Indian Union home minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Passenger Terminal Building and Maitri Dwar at the land port, said a press release disseminated by the Indian high commission in Dhaka.
In his remarks, Amit Shah said that the land port authority of India was making a significant contribution to country鈥檚 development, along with improving relations with neighbours, and facilitating the exchange of language, culture, and literature.
鈥楾he new Passenger Terminal Building at Land Port Petrapole is a significant addition to the region鈥檚 infrastructure which will enhance the travel experience between India and Bangladesh,鈥� read the release.
With a built-up area of 59,800 square meters, the Passenger Terminal Building has a passenger handling capacity of 20,000 per day.聽 The new joint cargo gate will ease and streamline the flow of goods between India and Bangladesh thereby enhancing trade efficiency.
Nearly 70 per cent of land-based trade and nearly 30 per cent of total trade (by value) between India and Bangladesh takes place through the Petrapole.
The port is also the eighth largest international immigration port of India and facilitates movement of over 23.5 lakh passengers annually between India and Bangladesh.
