Trading through Benapole slows

Trade through Benapole land port has slowed down due to serious shortage of parking space in India's Petrapole land port.
Every day, on average, 500 trucks bring in goods from India, with 300 going the other direction, said Md Akbar Hossain, joint commissioner of Benapole Customs House.
But due to the space scarcity, only 125 to 130 trucks are getting to pass through the ports, said Imtiaz Ahmed, a revenue officer at the Benapole customs office.
The goods vehicles which fail to pass through station themselves haphazardly around the Benapole port area, causing inconvenience for all.
Unloading goods have become tricky for importers, while exporters have to pay late fines to the freight companies for keeping the vehicles beyond their agreed timeframe.
“Moreover, export volumes through the Benapole land port have doubled of late, aggravating the situation,” said Hossain.
In fiscal 2011-12, exports through the Benapole port to India were 464,000 tonnes, an almost 25 percent increase from 371,798 tonnes in fiscal 2010-11.
The Petrapole port has only one road for incoming vehicles from Bangladesh, while the Benapole port has two roads for the vehicles coming from India.
Local businessmen suggest stationing a traffic serial controller at the entrance of the city to direct export goods-laden vehicles to lessen congestion around the port area.
“Hurrying up of the construction of the bypass road from Benapole to Petrapole would also help matters,” said Md A Awal Howlader, director of the Benapole land port.
Jute and jute products, betel nut, rice bran, apparels and perishable goods such as hilsa fish and other white fishes are regularly exported through the port.
The Benapole land port earned Tk 2,665 crore in fiscal 2011-2012, a 12 percent rise from Tk 2,374 crore in fiscal 2010-11.