Passenger terminal awaits activity

Built to handle around 2,000 trucks daily, Maitri Dwar is equipped with the latest technology: Automatic number-plate recognition, boom barriers, facial recognition, and access control systems for both entry and exit.

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But with trade restrictions tightening on both sides, the question remains: When will this gateway realise its true potential?

The roadblocks On May 17, New Delhi imposed curbs on certain imports from Bangladesh. A report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) estimated that the restricted items, at $770 million, accounted for around 42 per cent of all imports from Bangladesh. The most significant among them is readymade garments (RMG), arguably the backbone of Bangladesh's economy and exports.

RMG can now enter India only via the Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports, not land ports. This is likely to raise both delivery times and costs, sources say. At Petrapole, RMG is one of the top-five import categories.