India introduces 'Passenger User Charge' at Petrapole Port, raising travel costs for Bangladesh-bound passengers
Since the morning of 1 January, Indian authorities have been collecting between 200 and 500 Indian rupees from passengers travelling through the Petrapole-Benapole route, one of the busiest land ports between the two countries.
Travel costs for passport-holding passengers moving between India and Bangladesh via the Petrapole land port have increased from the first day of the new year, following the introduction of a new 'Passenger User Charge' by Indian authorities.
Since the morning of 1 January, Indian authorities have been collecting between 200 and 500 Indian rupees from passengers travelling through the Petrapole-Benapole route, one of the busiest land ports between the two countries.
Confirming the matter, Farhad Hossain, a revenue officer at Benapole Checkpost Customs in Jashore, said many passengers arriving from India informed them that the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) has started collecting the fee as a 'Passenger User Charge'.
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"We learned about the charge directly from the passengers," he said.
According to an official order signed on 30 December by Kamlesh Saini, manager of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Petrapole, the decision was taken under LPAI directives.
As per the order, Indian, Bangladeshi and other neighbouring country nationals are being charged 200 rupees, including GST, as a passenger service fee. Third-country nationals are required to pay 500 rupees or $5, while children under 10 years of age are charged a reduced fee of 50 rupees. Certain listed Indian government authorities and agencies have been exempted from the charge.
Indian authorities said the fee has been introduced to improve and modernise international passenger services at the newly developed passenger terminal building. To reduce congestion and improve efficiency, a digital booking system has also been launched, allowing passengers to book slots through a website or mobile application.
The new charge has drawn mixed reactions from travellers. Several India-bound passengers, however, said the introduction of the fee on the first day of the year has added to their financial burden. Previously, the Bangladesh government increased travel tax to Tk1,000 per passenger, along with a port tax of Tk56.
"With the addition of India's 200-rupee port charge, the cost has increased further, which is particularly burdensome for poor, sick and disadvantaged people," Abdur Rahim, a passenger, said.
Another passenger, Romana, expressed disappointment, saying travellers had hoped the new year would bring improvements in visa processing and normalisation of tourist and other visa services. "Instead, a new fee has been imposed on passengers, increasing frustration," she said.
