New Delhi || 28-10-2024 Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a new Passenger Terminal Building and a Maitri Dwar in Petrapole, West Bengal built at a cost of Rs. 487 crore by the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) on Suday.
In his address, Amit Shah said that the inauguration of Integrated Checkpost, Passenger Terminal Buildings, and Maitri Dwar in Petrapole are a reflection of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of revitalizing every sector. He mentioned that since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Modi Ji has initiated numerous new programs in areas like education, health, internal security, border security, and sports, and has lead them to a logical conclusion reaping success in every field.
Home Minister said that today the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) is making a significant contribution to country’s development, along with improving relations with neighbours, and facilitating the exchange of language, culture, and literature. He emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the LPAI is working on the mantra of 4 Ps, viz. Prosperity, Peace, Partnership, and Progress.
About the outcome of the Terminal Shah noted that this new initiative will bring about a significant change in the prosperity of the entire region. He mentioned that this initiative by the LPAI will also help establish peace here, as the lack of a legal framework for movement has led to illegal crossings, which harm peace of India and West Bengal. He stated that peace in West Bengal can only be established when the support for illegal infiltration is stopped and it comes to a complete halt, which will usher in a new era of partnership with neighboring countries.
Home Minister Shah mentioned that in the year 2023-24, trade worth ₹71,000 crore was conducted through all these land ports. He mentioned that 23 more land ports are set to be developed in the near future. He added that a comprehensive plan for the complete digitization of the LPAI, aimed at enhancing security through technology and minimizing issues, is almost ready.
The inauguration ceremony was also graced by the presence of Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govind Mohan, Union Home Secretary, Dr Rajendra Kumar, Secretary, Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Daljit Singh, Director General, Border Security Force and Shri Aditya Mishra, Chairman of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI).
