Planning for infrastructure and facilities for border trade: a case study of darranga trade market in Assam

Abstract

Border trade generally refers to the flow of goods and services across the international borders between two countries. Economic growth of a country cannot be accelerated by intra country trade. It depends on how the country trades with the other countries. Indo - Bhutan border trade has not only been quite old, it has seen quantum jump over successive periods. Although border trade between India and Bhutan takes at many places, Samdrup Jongkhar (in Bhutan) - Darranga (in India) border trade point has been the most prominent one. The present study is thus devoted to the planning for infrastructure and facilities for border trade at Darranga. The main motive of the study is to develop Darranga border market which lies in Darranga - Samdrup Jonkhar Trade Corridor so that it can act as a major trade route between eastern Bhutan and Northeast India. . The objective is to facilitate Darranga with necessary trade facilities so that it can serve the major border trading corridor in north eastern Assam. This will be achieved by (1) estimating the trade intensity index and trend of trade between Darranga (India) and Samdrup Jonkhar (Bhutan), (2) profiling the existing scenario of trade infrastructure in Darranga, (3) identifying the composition of trade between Darranga and Samdrup Jonkhar in order to analyse the infrastructure gap, (4) formulating planning proposals for infrastructure to promote trade and (5) proposing a layout design for Darranga market. The present study proposes to strengthen the infrastructural base of Darranga by suggesting the following interventions: (1) improved road connectivity, (2) parking for small vehicle, (3) parking for heavy vehicle, (4) site for ware houses, (5) improved approachability to trade centre & truck parking, (6) site for bus terminus, (7) proposing of an alternate route to Motanga industrial estate, (8) proposal for banking facility and (9) retail market outlet layout so that trade occurs smoothly and raises the socio-economic condition of the localities.