Petrapole

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Petrapole | type = city | latd = 23.0 | longd = 88.83
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = North 24 Parganas
leader_title =
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altitude = 6
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = | population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
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postal_code =
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unlocode =
website = north24parganas.nic.in/
footnotes =

Petrapole is the Indian side of Petrapole-Benapole border checkpoint between India and Bangladesh.

Location

Petrapole is in the district of North 24 Parganas and is about 95 km from Kolkata on the National Highway 35. The nearest town and passenger rail head is Bongaon.

ignificance

Petrapole border is the only land port in south Bengal. According to study by RITES, the goods traffic is approximately 400 trucks per day both ways, while the 2006 passenger traffic is about 1,159 people per day (both incoming and outgoing). The total traffic in 2029-30 has been projected as 2,938 trucks per day and the passenger traffic by then will be 3,924 people per day. [ [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/18/stories/2006061802970300.htm The Hindu Business Line 18 June 2006] ]

Communication

The Petrapole-Benapole rail link was opened in 2001 after being closed for 26 years. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2001/01/22/stories/142271b6.htm The Hindu 22 January 2001] ] There is a proposal to construct a by-pass road to ease congestion on the present road, connecting Benapole to NH 35, bypassing Bangaon. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051204/asp/bengal/story_5557173.asp The Telegraph 4 December 2005] ]

External links

* [http://wikimapia.org/1443271/ Satellite map]

References

ee also