Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a new passenger terminal and cargo gate at Petrapole, the largest land port in South Asia, enhancing trade and passenger movement between India and Bangladesh, according to foreign newspapers and news agencies
The port handles 70% of land-based trade and facilitates over 23.5 lakh passengers yearly. Amit Shah inaugurated the newly constructed passenger terminal and a cargo gate at the India-Bangladesh land border crossing in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. The crossing at Petrapole is the largest land port in South Asia and a vital gateway for trade and commerce between the two countries.
Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh) is one of the most important land border crossings between the two countries, both in terms of trade and passenger movement.
Nearly 70 per cent of land-based trade (by value) between India and Bangladesh occurs through this facility, which is under the administrative control of the Land Ports Authority of India, a wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Amit Shah said peace can be established in West Bengal only when cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh stops.
He claimed that illegal immigration from the neighbouring country will be stopped if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal in 2026.
Addressing the inauguration of a new passenger terminal building and cargo gate at Petrapole land port along the India-Bangladesh border in Bengal, he slammed the TMC government over the issue of corruption and exhorted the people of the state to bring in political change in 2026.
"In establishing peace in the region, land ports play an important role. When there is no scope for the legal movement of people across the border, illegal modes of movement arise, which impacts the peace of the country. I urge the people of Bengal to bring in change in 2026, and we will stop infiltration, and peace will come," he said.
"There can be peace in Bengal only when infiltration stops... Land ports play an important role in improving connectivity and relations between the two countries. They also enhance trade relations between the two nations," he adde
