To facilitate smoother movement of goods and people between Bangladesh and India, another cargo terminal gate is going to be erected while a second passenger terminal building is also being constructed at the Petrapole-Benapole Integrated Check Post (ICP), which is a crucial gateway for trade between the two countries and accounts for around more than 70 per cent of the land-based bilateral trade between the two countries.
Given the importance of the Petrapole-Benapole ICP for the movement of passengers — the port has been operational since 2017 — a new passenger terminal building with modern amenities was inaugurated in September 2021 while a second passenger terminal building is under construction and in addition, a second cargo terminal gate is also going to be built.
This is expected to double the cross-border throughput of vehicles per day, reportedly claimed the High Commission of India in a press release, which followed after a statement came from the High Commissioner of India Pranay Verma, who met with senior officials of both the countries during his recent visit to the check post.