India setting up integrated checkposts along border

AGARTALA - India is building six integrated checkposts (ICPs) along the border with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal for facilitating trade and economy and for trans-border passengers, an official said here Tuesday.

These ICPs would be sanitised zones with dedicated passenger and cargo terminals comprising adequate customs and immigration facilities, weigh bridge, security and scanning equipment, health and quarantine facilities and banks.

In addition, passenger amenities like waiting areas, restaurants, rest rooms, duty-free shops, close circuit television (CCTV), parking warehousing and various public utilities are also be integrated in these ICPs.

The six ICPs are part of a total 13 ICPs to be set up along the various bordering areas at a cost of Rs.6.35 billion.

“These ICPs would carry out twin purposes — handling export-import consignments and trans-border passengers visiting the neighbouring countries and vice versa,” A.E. Ahmed, secretary (Border Management) in the ministry of home affairs, told reporters Tuesday.

He said: “In the first phase, six ICPs would be set up at Raxaul and Jogbani (in Bihar) along the border with Nepal, Attari (in Punjab) along the border with Pakistan, and Akhaurah (in Tripura), Dawki (in Meghalaya) and Karimganj (in Assam) - all along the border with Bangladesh.”

“Work for construction of ICPs at Attari, Raxaul, Jogbani and Akhaurah has begun and work for the remaining posts would be taken up soon,” he added.

“The setting up of ICPs along India’s international border is a major initiative which the centre has undertaken as part of a scheme envisaged during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12).”

A Land Port Authority of India is being established to supervise the construction works and maintenance of these ICPs.