India today improved cross-border commerce and immigration facilities at the Petropole in West Bengal by opening a shared freight gate called Maitri Dwar, an integrated check post and a passenger terminal facility.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued a press release announcing that Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah had officially opened the Passenger Terminal Building and Maitri Dwar at the land port.
The Petrapole Land Port in India and the Benapole Land Port in Bangladesh are two of the most significant land border crossings for both nations in terms of passenger and commerce traffic.
According to Shah’s words, the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) is significantly advancing the growth of the nation, fostering better ties with neighbours, and promoting the interchange of literature, culture, and language.
Additionally, he stated that LPAI is creating avenues of friendship for border connectivity, border security, border trade, and connectedness with eastern Indians.
According to the announcement, the new Passenger Terminal Building at Land Port Petrapole is an important addition to the area’s infrastructure that will improve travel between Bangladesh and India.
The Passenger Terminal Building can handle 20,000 passengers per day and has a built-up area of 59,800 square meters.The new joint cargo gate will improve trade efficiency by simplifying and streamlining the movement of products between Bangladesh and India.
This land port facilitates around 70% of land-based trade and almost 30% of all trade (by value) between Bangladesh and India.
Every year, more than 23.5 lakh travellers travel between India and Bangladesh at Petrapole Land Port, which is also India’s eighth-largest international immigration port.
