At the very beginning of the new year, travel costs have increased for passport-holding passengers crossing the India–Bangladesh land route. Since January 1, Indian authorities have imposed passenger user charge (PUC) ranging from 200 to 500 Indian rupees on international passengers travelling through Petrapole, the largest land port between the two countries. Several passengers, including India-bound traveller Abdur Rahim, said that the imposition of user charge at Petrapole has further increased the financial burden on passport-holding passengers. In addition, the Indian government’s newly imposed 200-rupee port charge has become an added burden, particularly for poor, sick, and underprivileged people. Authorities said that the fee has been introduced to further improve and modernise international passenger services at the passenger terminal building.
