As part of the ongoing exercise to ease the coronavirus related restrictions, Indian customs department has, reportedly, decided to extend the timing of trade with Bangladesh through West Bengal’s Petrapole land port by another 3 hours till 11 pm, even as the move is expected to reduce the number of trucks stranded at the land port.
Media reports maintained this adding earlier trade between the two countries (India and Bangladesh) was allowed only till 8 pm while underlining that as per a notice issued by the Petrapole customs authorities, the District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas has permitted an extension of time for export and import, consequent to which trade can take place between 6 am and 11 pm.
The number of trucks bound for Bangladesh daily through Petrapole had reduced significantly as cargo-laden vehicles get stranded for 20-25 days even though facilities such as electronic filings are in place and a dedicated export road has been developed, reportedly, maintained the President of the Petrapole Exporters and Importers Welfare Association, Paritosh Biswas, adding that on a normal day, around 100-150 trucks come from Bangladesh while 500-550 trucks cross the border from India to Bangladesh even as currently around 250-275 trucks, reportedly, cross over to Bangladesh through the Petrapole land port.
