The Hindu Business Line : `LCS must be upgraded to boost Indo-Bangla trade'

If the current momentum in the country's trade with Bangladesh is to be sustained, infrastructure facilities at land Customs stations (LCS) in Bengal must improve.

The f.o.b. value of exports to Bangladesh in 2005 was Rs 6,500 crore, with imports too showing an increase at Rs 493 crore.

Admitting that exporters have to jostle for space with customs and BSF personnel at the LCS points, Ms Lipika Majumdar Roychoudhury, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Kolkata, said here on Tuesday that there was an urgent need for a "sanitized zone"at these international borders.

Speaking at an interactive session on `Trade with Bangladesh — issues related to Customs', organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, she said Customs authorities have improved the facilities at Petrapole, such as the creation of a new examination area. About 60-70 per cent of the export cargo was now examined at the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) truck terminal, she said.

Customs' working hours at Petrapole border have been extended (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to facilitate increased movement of trucks.

She said infrastructure facilities, including banking, are being improved at both Mohadipur and Hilli LCS points (North Bengal borders with Bangladesh).

A new customs examination area is expected to come up in Mohadipur in six months.

Pointing out that the Calcutta Commissionerate was the only body currently handling border trade in a big way, she suggested development of riverine trade with Bangladesh, as it was cheaper and faster.

According to Ms Nayantara Palchoudhuri, president of BNCCI, denial of Customs clearance for unloading imported goods from Bangladesh trucks at the CWC terminal was disrupting the smooth flow of goods.

Pointing out that some important LCS points like Hilli, Chengrabandha and Gozadanga were are not yet notified yet for DEPB benefits, she said the issue needed urgent attention.

Responding to this, Ms Majumdar said the issue was one of policy.

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