At the very beginning of the new year, travel costs have increased for passport-holding passengers crossing the India–Bangladesh land route.
Since January 1, Indian authorities have imposed passenger user charge (PUC) ranging from 200 to 500 Indian rupees on international passengers travelling through Petrapole, the largest land port between the two countries. The new decision has triggered disappointment and mixed reactions among Bangladeshi passengers.
Several passengers, including India-bound traveller Abdur Rahim, said that the imposition of user charge at Petrapole has further increased the financial burden on passport-holding passengers.
Previously, the Bangladesh government raised travel taxes in phases, setting the latest travel tax at Tk1,000 per passenger along with port tax of Tk56. In addition, the Indian government’s newly imposed 200-rupee port charge has become an added burden, particularly for poor, sick, and underprivileged people.
Another passenger Romana Begum said she hoped that all visa services, including tourist visas, would return to normal. “Instead, India has imposed an additional 200-rupee fee on Bangladeshi passport holders, which has increased frustration.”
Since the charge came into effect on January 1, all international passengers travelling via the India–Bangladesh land route are now required to bear this additional cost.
According to the decision taken by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), an official memorandum signed on December 30 by Kamlesh Saini, Manager of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Petrapole, instructed that a passenger service fee—including GST—be collected from passengers. Under this directive, Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, and citizens of neighbouring countries are being charged 200 rupees, while citizens of third countries are required to pay 500 rupees or US$5.
However, a special concession has been provided for children under the age of 10, for whom the fee has been fixed at 50 rupees. In addition, certain Indian government-listed authorities and agencies have been exempted from the charge.
Authorities said that the fee has been introduced to further improve and modernise international passenger services at the passenger terminal building. At the same time, the digital booking system has been launched to reduce passenger inconvenience. Travellers will be able to book slots at their convenience by logging in with their mobile number or email address through a mobile app. The app will be available on both the Android Play Store and the iOS App Store, and QR code scanning facilities for registration will also be provided.