2021-12-29-亚开行-加尔各答沿线的贸易_实现繁荣和一体化的南亚（英）_61页_2mb

Strengthening Trade along the Dhaka–Kolkata Route

The study analyzes key bottlenecks in land trade between Bangladesh and India, focusing on three major gateways: Petrapole–Benapole, Ghojadanga–Bhomra, and Gede–Darshana. Recommendations prioritize infrastructure upgrades, trade facilitation reforms, and cross-border coordination to reduce congestion and costs.

Petrapole–Benapole Gateway

• Key Bottlenecks

  • Road congestion on NH 19, NH 112, and SH 1; underdeveloped rail infrastructure.
  • Mismatched parking capacity (India: ~1500 spaces; Bangladesh: ~700–800 spaces).
  • Manual and inefficient customs clearance processes (e.g., car pass system).

• Proposed Solutions

  • Expand road networks and rail tracks to 24/7 operations.
  • Develop a dedicated export hub and parking management system in India to address backlog.
  • Align Bangladesh’s testing norms with FSSAI to streamline customs clearance.

Ghojadanga–Bhomra Gateway

• Key Bottlenecks

  • Inadequate LCS infrastructure, limited parking, and poor mobile connectivity.
  • Manual risk management and lack of integration with SWIFT and Benapass.

• Proposed Solutions

  • Upgrade LCS facilities (warehouses, weighbridges, plant/animal quarantine).
  • Introduce automated RMS and advanced ICT for paperless trade.
  • Further expand permissible import items to increase trade volumes.

Gede–Darshana Gateway

• Key Bottlenecks

  • Road connectivity issues and underdeveloped last-mile infrastructure.
  • Absence of rail sidings and storage facilities for imports.

• Proposed Solutions

  • Augment rail networks (dedicated freight corridors, sidings).
  • Implement road connectivity and multi-modal transport options.
  • Expand permissible goods lists for broader trade use.

Cross-Gateway Synergies

• Shared Challenges

  • Inefficient weighment processes and lack of data sharing between countries.
  • Low containerization rates and high detention costs.

• Proposed Solutions

  • Harmonize commodity lists across gateways.
  • Establish a regional single window system for seamless documentation.
  • Promote dry ports and inland container depots to decongest border crossings.

Key Achievements

Bangladesh and India have upgraded border crossings and adopted systems like ASYCUDA and RMS. Collaboration remains essential for scaling trade and leveraging regional integration.