KoPT strengthens shipping service to Bangladesh amid Petrapole stalemate

    Kolkata, Jul 3 (PTI) The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT),
rechristened as the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust, on
Friday introduced a new shipping service through the inland
waterways route between the West Bengal capital and the
seaside town of Chittagong in Bangladesh amid frequent
disruption of cross-border trade via the Petrapole-Benapole
land ports.
    Export of Indian goods to Bangladesh through the
Petrapole border in West Bengal was disrupted on July 1 due to
agitation by a section of exporters in the neighbouring
country.
    They were unhappy over India not allowing import of
goods from Bangladesh through Petrapole due to the COVID-19
outbreak.
    "The 'M V Asiatic Moon' is expected to carry 300
containers of Indian exports to Bangladesh in its maiden
voyage. This is the biggest vessel by size to ply between
Kolkata and Chittagong till date. It can carry up to 600
containers in a single voyage to Chittagong," Kolkata Port
deputy chairman S Balaji Arunkumar said.
    Earlier, barges with carrying capacity of 80-100
containers were operational on this route, he said.
    The deadlock at the Petrapole-Benapole border
continued on Friday with Bangladeshi traders and workers
agitating for their demand.
    "The port and shipping line is also in consultation
with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) to
make sure all exporters are aware of the new service to ease
the pressure brought about by the issues faced at the overland
routes through Petrapole," KoPT Chairman Vinit Kumar said.
    Another similar cargo service to Chittagong will
commence from the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port in the second
week of July, he said.
    Meanwhile, the KoPT has commissioned an outer mooring
terminal at the Haldia Dock Complex at a cost of Rs 3.8 crore,
officials said. PTI BSM
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)