Petrapole

Petrapole
Border Checkpoint
Jessore Road, Petrapole
Petrapole Location in West Bengal, India Show map of West Bengal Petrapole Petrapole (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 23°00′N88°50′E / 23.0°N 88.83°E / 23.0; 88.83
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	North 24 Parganas
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	WB
Website	north24parganas.nic.in

Petrapole is the Indian side of Petrapole-Benapole border checkpoint between India and Benapole of Bangladesh, on the Bangladesh-India border, near Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Petrapole border is the only land port in south Bengal. It is also the largest land customs station in Asia. ^[1]

Geography

5km
3miles

B

A

N

G

L

A

D

E

S

H

Betna River

Ichhamati River

Bibhutibhusan
Wildlife Sanctuary

T

Petrapole check post

R

Palla

R

Nahata

R

Helencha

R

Gopalnagar

R

Gaighata

R

Bagdah

R

Thakurnagar

R

Bangaon

M

Sonatikiri

CT

Shimulpur

CT

Dhakuria

CT

Chikanpara

CT

Bara

CT

Chhekati

CT

Chandpara

CT

  

Cities, towns and locations in Bangaon subdivision, North 24 Parganas district
M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, T: place of tourist interest
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Petrapole is in the district of North 24 Parganas and is about 95 km from Kolkata on the National Highway 112 (formerly NH 35). The nearest town and passenger rail station is Bongaon. ^[1]

Area overview

The area shown in the map was a part of Jessore district from 1883. ^{[2] [3]} At the time of Partition of Bengal (1947) the Radcliffe Line placed the police station areas of Bangaon and Gaighata of Jessore district in India and the area was made a part of 24 Parganas district. ^[4] The renowned novelist, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (of Pather Panchali fame) belonged to this area and many of his writings portray his experience in the area. ^[5] It is a flat plain located in the lower Ganges Delta. ^[6] In the densely populated area, 16.33% of the population lives in the urban areas and 83.67% lives in the rural areas. ^{[7] [8]}

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Significance

This check post accounts for more than half of the $4-billion (nearly double the trade volume with Pakistan) trade with Bangladesh. This is the largest land port of Asia. ^[9] The landport alone accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh. ^{[10] [11]}

Communication

The Petrapole-Benapole rail link was opened in 2001 after being closed for 24 years. ^[12] There is a proposal to construct a by-pass road to ease congestion on the present road, connecting Benapole to NH 112 (earlier NH 35), bypassing Bangaon. ^[13] On 9 November 2017, Nearly 10 years after Kolkata-Dhaka passenger train was flagged off after a gap of 43 years, a new train – Bandhan Express – was inaugurated between Kolkata and Khulna in Bangladesh (via Petrapole and Benapole), covering a distance of about 172 km. This is a weekly train and runs on Thursdays from both sides.

Gallery

• 
  BSF at Petrapole
• 
  Crossing Border at Petrapole
• 
  En route to Petrapole
• 
  Petrapole railway station
• 
  Auto to Petropole

See also

• Benapole Border Crossing

References

1. "Chief secretary visits Petrapole border". The Times of India. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
2. "Bengal District Gazetteers, Jessore by L.S.S. O'Malley". Chapter II: History, Page/ Section 44. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, 1912. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
3. "District Gazetteer" (PDF). Chapter IX: General Administration, Page 150. Egiye Bangla. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
4. "Jessore District Information". Khujbo.com. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
5. "Bibhutibhusan Bandopadhyay". Banglapedia. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
6. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 13. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
7. "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
8. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of North Twenty Four Parganas with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
9. Bose, Pratim Ranjan; Law, Abhishek (12 March 2018). "Customs wants better rail link thru Petrapole". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
10. Integrated check post planned at Petrapole to boost trade with Dhaka. thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
11. Petrapole infrastructure to be beefed up. thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
12. Petrapole-Benapole rail link re-opens after 24 years hindu.com. Retrieved 6 May 2013
13. Bypass to ease border traffic telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 6 May 2013

External links

• Satellite map