Passenger movement between India and Bangladesh through the Petrapole land port in North 24-Parganas will become smoother with the new passenger terminal officially starting operations on Sunday.
Union home minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate the terminal on Sunday as a part of his Bengal visit.
The new terminal, with a capacity to process up to 20,000 passengers per day, is expected to enhance bilateral ties with Bangladesh. The terminal, designed to accommodate 2,500 passengers at a time, promises a seamless travel experience with streamlined immigration, Customs and security services under one roof.
Shah will also inaugurate the “Maitri Dwar”, a new joint cargo gate located at the border's zero line, to facilitate the movement of some 700 cargo trucks daily, boosting the efficiency of goods clearance and bilateral trade. This cargo gate is likely to become operational shortly.
Kamlesh Saini, manager of the Petrapole land port, said the facilities would herald a new era in passenger movement and bilateral trade.
“The new terminal will offer an unprecedented travel experience, ensuring comfort and hassle-free movement for passengers,” he said.
The terminal, spanning over 60,000sqm, features advanced technological systems for enhanced safety, efficiency, and passenger comfort.
An official from the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) likened the facility’s design to a modern airport.
Previously, passengers entering India from Bangladesh endured prolonged waits at Petrapole. Officials said this would change for the better from Sunday.
The three-storey structure with direct access from NH35, designed as a piece of architectural beauty, houses immigration counters, security checkpoints, waiting areas, duty-free shops, a cafeteria, medical stores, infant feeding rooms, currency exchange counters, conveyor belts, office space, a hostel and a basement car park.
As South Asia’s largest landport and India’s eighth-largest international immigration point, Petrapole is an important gateway for trade and passenger movement with Bangladesh, handling over 2.3 million passengers annually.
In 2022-23, the port recorded 1,937,414 passengers, which rose to 2,348,707 in 2023-24.
Trade is similarly robust, with nearly 70 per cent of land-based trade between India and Bangladesh passing through Petrapole. Last year, 1,42,721 cargo movements were recorded, amounting to a trading volume of ₹30,378.47 crore, increasing to ₹30,420.92 crore and 1,45,280 cargo movements in 2023-24.
The Maitri Dwar aims to address long-standing demands of traders and transporters for a wider, more efficient cargo gate equipped with modern technology.
“We have long ago demanded to make the cargo gate wider with modern technological gadgets for better trade. We are thankful to the Centre that it has constructed the Maitri Dwar as a dedicated wider gate for cargo," said Kartick Chakraborty, secretary of the Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association.
Key features at the gate include an automatic number plate recognition system, boom barriers, facial recognition cameras and controlled entry-exit points for trucks from both countries.
Sources said that trade at Petrapole was paused on Saturday and would be suspended on Sunday also to address security needs for Shah’s visit to the land port.
