Land port comes up at Petrapole

An integrated check post, the largest land port in South Asia was inaugurated on Thursday at Petrapole in North 24 Parganas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took part in a video conference to inaugurate the land port.

Terming the occasion as a historic day, Banerjee said this would expedite development. She said she was happy as the land port was opened on July 21 which was considered to be the Martyrs’ Day by Trinamool Congress. This would open a new horizon in trade and commerce.

A new police station would be set up at Petrapole. Banerjee said the state government had cooperated with the Centre to set up the land port. In future too, the state government would cooperate with the Centre in all development related issues.

After addressing a meeting at Esplanade for Martyrs’ Day, Mamata Banerjee went to Nabanna to attend the video conference.

Earlier it was decided that the land port would be opened in the afternoon. But Banerjee had expressed displeasure as the timings of the meeting and the Martyrs’ Day inaugural ceremony clashed. Later, the time was changed.

She said culturally and traditionally, India and Bangladesh were close neighbours. She maintained that as the Prime Ministers of both the countries took part in the inaugural programme it would be a successful venture.

Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh and India should come closer to ensure development of the countries, she remarked.