Space shortage at Benapole: Thousands of trucks stranded
Traders have to spend up to seven days to unload their trucks
File photo: Trucks wait at Benapole land port, just outside of India’s Petrapole checkpost, waiting to be cleared Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Desk
Publish : 22 Dec 2021, 08:06 PMUpdate : 29 Mar 2022, 12:26 PM
Benapole port has been seeing a long tailback of trucks due to inadequate storage space at the port ever since the country’s export and import increased following the government’s decision to lift the lockdown.
Thousands of goods-laden trucks have been stranded on both sides of the border for the past month as traders try to recover from the losses caused by the pandemic.
Despite being built to accommodate 700 to 800 trucks every day, hardly 250-300 trucks can enter the port. Indian trucks therefore have to spend up to 10 days waiting to cross the border.
Due to this problem, importers from Bangladesh are losing around Tk2,200 (2000 Indian Rupee) a day.
Mafizur Rahman Sajan, president of Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association, said aside from the loss of money of the importers, there is a possibility that the quality of the products stored at the port will deteriorate. “Our reputation is also negatively affected by this issue.”
Benapole land port Director Moniruzzaman said the port has a capacity of 59,000 tons, but there are more than twice as many products stored at the port.
Since everything returned to normal after the lockdowns, there has been an increase in imports and exports. This has resulted in inadequate storage space at the port, he added.
According to some Benapole businessmen, the land port has 34 warehouses, eight yards, two truck terminals and an export terminal. Unfortunately, the port does not have the capacity to support the current load of vehicles.
Previously, a proposal was approved by the Planning Ministry to acquire 175 acres of land for the construction of new sheds, container terminals and stock yards at a cost of Tk15,000 crore.
In spite of the Ministry’s approval, no developments have been reported to date.
Emdadul Haque Lata, general secretary of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association said: “We have approached both the Ministry of Shipping and land port authorities on the implementation of the necessary infrastructural developments. Sadly, no response was received.”
Promod Kumar Singh and Amarjit Singh, exporters from Punjab, said they had been stranded at the port for eight days. Since the goods are yet to be unloaded, they have been sleeping and eating inside their truck.
Prabhas Pal, Jibon Mandal, Kartik Pal and many other truck drivers have reported that they have to stay at least 20-25 days at Bongaon Kalitala parking before they can reach Benapole.
After arriving at the land port, they have to stay for up to seven days before they can unload the goods from their trucks.
Benapole land port Director Moniruzzaman said the authorities have started the process of acquiring 100 acres of land in a village along Benapole bypass road.
Besides, 25 acres of land have been acquired near the import-export gate of the port area. The process of acquiring another 16 acres of land is at the final stage.
The space crisis at the port will be reduced a lot when the yards are constructed at the acquired site.
Space shortage at Benapole: Thousands of trucks stranded
Traders have to spend up to seven days to unload their trucks
Benapole port has been seeing a long tailback of trucks due to inadequate storage space at the port ever since the country’s export and import increased following the government’s decision to lift the lockdown.
Thousands of goods-laden trucks have been stranded on both sides of the border for the past month as traders try to recover from the losses caused by the pandemic.
Despite being built to accommodate 700 to 800 trucks every day, hardly 250-300 trucks can enter the port. Indian trucks therefore have to spend up to 10 days waiting to cross the border.
Due to this problem, importers from Bangladesh are losing around Tk2,200 (2000 Indian Rupee) a day.
Mafizur Rahman Sajan, president of Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association, said aside from the loss of money of the importers, there is a possibility that the quality of the products stored at the port will deteriorate. “Our reputation is also negatively affected by this issue.”
Benapole land port Director Moniruzzaman said the port has a capacity of 59,000 tons, but there are more than twice as many products stored at the port.
Since everything returned to normal after the lockdowns, there has been an increase in imports and exports. This has resulted in inadequate storage space at the port, he added.
According to some Benapole businessmen, the land port has 34 warehouses, eight yards, two truck terminals and an export terminal. Unfortunately, the port does not have the capacity to support the current load of vehicles.
Previously, a proposal was approved by the Planning Ministry to acquire 175 acres of land for the construction of new sheds, container terminals and stock yards at a cost of Tk15,000 crore.
In spite of the Ministry’s approval, no developments have been reported to date.
Emdadul Haque Lata, general secretary of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association said: “We have approached both the Ministry of Shipping and land port authorities on the implementation of the necessary infrastructural developments. Sadly, no response was received.”
Promod Kumar Singh and Amarjit Singh, exporters from Punjab, said they had been stranded at the port for eight days. Since the goods are yet to be unloaded, they have been sleeping and eating inside their truck.
Prabhas Pal, Jibon Mandal, Kartik Pal and many other truck drivers have reported that they have to stay at least 20-25 days at Bongaon Kalitala parking before they can reach Benapole.
After arriving at the land port, they have to stay for up to seven days before they can unload the goods from their trucks.
Benapole land port Director Moniruzzaman said the authorities have started the process of acquiring 100 acres of land in a village along Benapole bypass road.
Besides, 25 acres of land have been acquired near the import-export gate of the port area. The process of acquiring another 16 acres of land is at the final stage.
The space crisis at the port will be reduced a lot when the yards are constructed at the acquired site.
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