Indian Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday said 70 percent of the total trade between Bangladesh and India through land routes occurs via Petrapole.
He said Petrapole is the largest and busiest land port in South Asia, which enhances their trade and movement.
The Indian Minister made remarks while inaugurating a new passenger terminal building and a “Maitri Dwar” in Petrapole, West Bengal built at a cost of Rs. 487 crore by the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI).
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the Secretary Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Chairman of LPAI, were present.
“Maitri Dwar” will allow smooth passage of transport with handling capacity of over 600-700 trucks per day.
The Home Minister directed officials to ensure the conservation of the local environment by planting 25,000 saplings of such trees having a life of 200 years or more.
He mentioned that facilities such as automatic number plate recognition, boom barriers, facial recognition machines, and access control for entry and exit have been provided for seamless movement, according to the Indian Home Ministry.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated this in 2016-17, the trade volume was ₹18,000 crore, which has increased to ₹30,500 crore in 2023-24, reflecting a 64% growth.
Amit Shah said that the inauguration of integrated checkpost, passenger terminal buildings, and Maitri Dwar in Petrapole are a reflection of Prime Minister Modi's vision of revitalizing every sector.
He mentioned that since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Modi has initiated numerous new programs in areas like education, health, internal security, border security, and sports, and has led them to a logical conclusion reaping success in every field.
The Home Minister said that today the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) is making a significant contribution to the country's development, along with improving relations with neighbours, and facilitating the exchange of language, culture, and literature.
He emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the LPAI is working on the mantra of 4 Ps, viz. Prosperity, Peace, Partnership, and Progress.
Shah noted that this new initiative will bring about a significant change in the prosperity of the entire region.
He mentioned that this initiative by the LPAI will also help establish peace here, as the lack of a legal framework for movement has led to illegal crossings, which harm peace of India and West Bengal.
Shah mentioned that the increase in trade will boost transportation businesses, lead to the establishment of warehouses, and create various employment opportunities, including porters for loading and unloading goods. He added that approximately 24 lakh passengers traveled through Petrapole in 2023-24.
He explained that the LPAI serves as a one-stop solution that encompasses all aspects of immigration, customs, and border security.
He added that there are currently 12 land ports being operated in India, including Petrapole, Agartala, Srimanpur Sutarkandi, Sabroom with Bangladesh; Raxaul, Jogbani, Rupaidiha with Nepal; and Attari and Moreh with Pakistan and Myanmar, respectively.
