Jaigaon, June 20: Bhutan and India have decided to open two new entry points on the border for people crossing over on foot, while keeping the main road to Phuentsholing exclusively for vehicles.

The new arrangement, which was agreed upon at a meeting between officials of the two countries held yesterday, will facilitate security checks by diverting the human traffic away from the main road. Every day, thousands of workers cross the border to report for duty in Bhutan.

“We are making arrangements for two new paths into Bhutan near the Hanuman Mandir and the Fancy Market area which people will use to enter the kingdom on foot. They are located about 300m from the main road to Phuentsholing,” Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner B.L. Meena said today.

The home secretary of Bhutan, Dasho Wangda, who was present at yesterday’s meeting, said security aspects had prompted the decision to have new entry rules. “There will be security checks at all three points,” the home secretary said.

A source in the Bhutan police said the restrictions have been enforced to block the frequent attempts made by the militant group, Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), to carry out explosions inside the Himalayan kingdom, which recently stepped into democracy.

The source added that because vehicles as well as thousands of workers use the main road through Phuentsholing, it was becoming increasingly difficult to carry out proper security checks.

“With the new arrangements in place, we will be in a better position to carry out checks,” a senior Bhutan police officer said.

S.M. Prasad, the president of the Jaigaon Chamber of Commerce, said recently, Bhutan police had increased its vigilance and people entering Bhutan were facing lots of problems.

“Yesterday’s meeting took a crucial decision. From now on, the trip to Phuentsholing will be smoother because the police will be concentrating only on checking vehicles on the main road,” Prasad said.

He added that every day, nearly 10,000 Indians walked to Bhutan to work as store attendants, labourers and shop assistants in Phuentsholing.