The Centre is planning to develop seven to eight new international land ports in West Bengal along the borders with Bangladesh and Nepal to improve cargo movement and passenger connectivity. The projects will be taken up by the Land Ports Authority of India, which functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
At present, West Bengal has only one operational land port at Petrapole near Bongaon on the India-Bangladesh border. Proposed locations for the new land ports include Panitanki on the India-Nepal border, Ghojadanga in North 24 Parganas, Hili in Dinajpur and Birpara in Alipurduar, among others.
Officials say the new facilities are part of a broader national plan to expand the country’s land port network and modernise border trade infrastructure. Each port is expected to require around 50 acres of land and must be located directly along the border to support integrated terminal operations and smoother vehicle movement.
The move is aimed at strengthening India’s trade links with neighbouring countries, especially Bangladesh and Nepal, while easing congestion at existing border points. It also reflects the growing importance of land ports in cross-border logistics, customs processing and regional supply-chain efficiency.
According to government estimates, India’s land borders still hold significant untapped trade potential, and better port infrastructure could help unlock more cargo flows through formal border channels. In that context, the proposed West Bengal land ports are expected to play a key role in improving trade facilitation and boosting cross-border commerce.
