Although FIEO has not given an estimate of the investment required, industry sources said that it would be over Rs 100 crore.

Among the facilities sought in the list, submitted by Rakesh Shah, FIEO's eastern region chairman, are a modern parking lot for 2,000 trucks, warehouses, electronic data interchange facilities, inter-connective railway tracks and a modernised customs office.

Sources said that the commerce ministry's request for a detailed plan for infrastructure development at Petrapole underscored the importance of this border route, although exporters' expectations were belied when it was decided that the landport would remain under the commerce ministry instead of surface transport.

Petrapole is the most important land border pointfor trade with Bangladesh. Of India's total exports of Rs 3,029 crore in 1997-98, trade through this border constituted about 49 per cent. On an average, 3,000 trucks are reported to cross Petrapole everyday. Around 60 per cent of India's exports to Bangladesh is made through this border route.

Shah, in his note, said that if this border port had good infrastructural support then exports through it could rise to Rs 10,000 crore next year. "Moreover, if transhipment is allowed at Petrapole, then it will become a gateway to South-East Asia by using the Chittagong port," he added.