Benapole port’s cargo vehicle terminal likely to open in Nov

DailySun || Shining BD

Published: 10/30/2024 5:49:51 AM

The much-awaited modern cargo vehicle terminal at the country’s largest land port, Benapole, is expected to be inaugurated in the first week of November.

This terminal is hopefully to ease the vehicle congestion at the port and at the same time elevate the trading between India and Bangladesh to a new dimension.

According to port sources, the terminal has been built on around 24 acres of land at a cost of about Tk329 crore. The construction work on the project began in February 2022.

Hasan Ali, project director and supervising engineer of the terminal, stated that the terminal, equipped with modern facilities, can accommodate 1,200 to 1,500 cargo trucks at a time.

He said the highest construction quality was also ensured through the laboratory tests of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).

Now, the final steps, like connecting electricity, are going on, and two or three days would be needed for the completion.

Hasan Ali further shared that the project includes infrastructure such as a parking yard, cargo building, port service building, utility building, fire station, modern toilet complex, weighbridge scale, and other amenities.

“The terminal is modern and aesthetically designed,” he said, adding, “Four construction companies worked on the project, and the entire area will be under continuous CCTV surveillance.”

Mohammad Moshiur Rahman, deputy director (administration) of the port, stated that all works have already been completed and expressed hope that the terminal will be inaugurated in the first week of November.

Rezaul Karim, director (traffic) of the port, noted that the port has been experiencing a severe shortage of space due to the expansion of trade between the two countries.

“Imported goods from India often remain in trucks for days due to limited unloading capacity. This terminal has been constructed to address the issue,” he said.

Shamsur Rahman, president of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association, said, “Cargo congestion has become a major problem. The terminal's opening will increase the port's capacity, boost Bangladesh's revenue, and further facilitate trade between the two countries.”

The Benapole Port is one of the largest ports in Asia that facilitates daily trade between Bangladesh and neighbouring India. Bangladesh Land Port Authority controls it. The Benapole Port handles 90% of the country’s land trade, with around 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of goods imported daily from India. Annually, approximately 20 lakh tonnes of goods are imported through this port. Bangladesh earns over Tk10,000 crore revenue each year from the port.

The port also connects train service between Bangladesh and India. Petrapole is the corresponding port on the Indian side, located in West Bengal of India, 80 kilometres away from state capital Kolkata.

Shining BD