Amit Shah to Inaugurate a New Passenger Terminal at the Indo-Bangla Border Crossing on Sunday

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate a newly constructed passenger terminal and a cargo gate at India- Banglesh land border crossing in West Bengal's rth 24 Parganas district on Sunday. crossing at Petrapole is largest land port in South Asia and is a vital gateway for tre and commerce between India and Banglesh.

Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Banglesh) is one of most important land border crossings for India-Banglesh, both in terms of tre and passenger movement, a statement said.

Nearly 70 per cent of land-based tre (by value) between India and Banglesh takes place through this land port, which is under ministrative control of Land Ports Authority of India, a wing of Ministry of Home Affairs.

It is also eighth largest international immigration port of India and facilitates movement of over 23.5 lakh passengers annually between India and Banglesh.

new passenger terminal at Petrapole is a significant dition to region's infrastructure and it is set to enhance travel experience between India and Banglesh, statement said.

With its robust construction and vanced techlogical systems, terminal promises safety, efficiency, and comfort for all users.

Designed to reflect grandeur of international transport hubs, terminal at Petrapole is equipped with all modern facilities such as VIP lounges, a duty-free shop, basic medical facilities, a baby feeding room, and food and bever outlets.

terminal has a passenger handling capacity of 20,000 per day, and will house immigration, customs, and security services under one roof. Its built-up area is 59,800 sq m.

government has also implemented automated entry and exit systems through flap barrier integration.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided Land Ports Authority of India a new momentum, direction and dimension to take forward our cultural and tre relations with all South Asian countries," statement said.

This ambitious project is set to redefine infrastructure and service standards, enhancing travel experience between India and Banglesh and positioning itself as a pivotal hub in Asia.

A joint cargo gate, named Maitri Dwar, at zero line agreed upon by both countries, will also be inaugurated by Shah.

He h laid foundation stone for projects on May 9, 2023.

In response to daily cross-border traffic movement at Petrapole, which sees approximately 600-700 trucks per day, Land Ports Authority of India established new common second cargo gate.

This dedicated gate for cargo movement is aimed at easing and streamlining flow of goods between two nations.

introduction of Maitri Dwar is anticipated to significantly accelerate release and clearance of goods at border, reby enhancing tre efficiency, statement said.

gate is equipped with modern-day facilities such as automatic number plate recognition, boom barriers, facial recognition cameras and access-controlled entry and exit points for trucks from India and Banglesh.

Shah was supposed to inaugurate facilities on October 24 but it was postponed due to Cyclone Dana.

Petrapole Land Port Manr Kamlesh Saini said new infrastructure marks a significant step towards strengning India-Banglesh ties.

Sajedur Rahman, general secretary of Benapole C&F Staff Association, told PTI that new infrastructure built by India was a positive step that would facilitate smoor passenger movement and tre.

Reduced congestion at crossing will help tre between two countries expand in future, he said.

(Inputs from PTI)