The Hindu Business Line : Truck congestion may hit exports to Bangladesh

THE endemic problem of truck congestion at the Land Customs stations in Bengal, bordering Bangladesh, has now re-visited Petrapole, and other two stations of Mahadipur and Hili (in North Bengal) because of this new problem of repeat checks by the preventive wing of Land Customs.

Senior officials of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), eastern region, told Business Line on Saturday that, as on date, some 4,000 trucks have now lined up on the approach road to Petrapole, threatening movement of export cargo, mainly perishables, to Bangladesh.

Against a normal clearance of at least 500 trucks daily, only some 300 are now waved across, thanks to the repeat preventive checks by customs.

The same Export General Manifest (EGM) produced by the exporter now has to be checked by both BSF personnel and Preventive wing of Customs at near zero point. It is feared that with the Ramzan month of fasting on, exports to Bangladesh via Petrapole point (which averages exports of over Rs 3,000 crore annually) may slow down further, jeopardising exports.

According to Mr Uzzal Saha, Hon. General Secretary of the West Bengal Exporters' Co-ordination Committee, non-maintenance of proper timing and delay in clearance of export trucks at Hili point in South Dinajpur, which normally witnesses large exports of major quantities of foodgrains to Bangladesh, has curtailed trucks clearance to 50-60 from the normal levels of 160-200.

According to Mr Saha if immediate steps are not taken to speed up clearance of trucks through all these LCS points, export to Bangladesh may be hit, affecting foreign exchange earnings, employment generation and, of course, the agri-business sector.

Our Kolkata Bureau

More Stories on : Roadways | Exports & Imports

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
India, Vietnam to start direct flights

Chennai airport to handle more goods, people

IL-78 emergency landing in Thiruvananthapuram

Maritime administration needs shoring up

Grading maritime institutes — DG Shipping takes the plunge

Kulpi port not feasible for ocean-going vessels, says expert

Decks cleared for Kochi box terminal project

International container transhipment terminal — Kochi port floats connectivity plans

Sukhois fighter steals Mumbai air show

Rs 140-cr Central aid to improve TN roads: Baalu

Truck congestion may hit exports to Bangladesh