New entry,
exit point along Indo-Bhutan border in Phuentsholing
A new entry and exit point in Phuentsholing
along the India-Bhutan frontier will soon come up to ease
traffic at the border town.
The place for the gate is tentatively identified near the
State Trading Corporation of Bhutan office in lower Phuentsholing.
This was decided between Bhutanese and West Bengal officials
at the recent 18th Border Coordination meeting at Kalimpong
in the eastern state.
Bhutan's consul in Kolkata, Tshering Wangda, who led that
country's delegation, said a high-level committee has been
formed with officials from Chukha district (Bhutan) and Jalpaiguri
district (West Bengal) to survey the location of the gate.
District Magistrate of Darjeeling, Mr S Gupta, said increased
vehicular and human traffic at the present Phuentsholing gate
had crowded the area, disrupting smooth flow of vehicles and
people.
“Regular contacts, exchange of views and ideas and good
communication between the two governments are necessary to
implement the decision taken,” he said.
According to Bhutan's state-run daily ***Kuensel, the meeting
also decided to widen the clearance area near the Phuentsholing
gate on the Indian side. The clearance area will be extended
up to the Jaigaon police station.
The meeting also discussed security issues and reviewed decisions
taken during the 17th coordination meeting. Earlier, officials
of the Himalayan country held discussions with their Assam
counterparts on development activities, apart from insurgency
and border issues.