Chidambaram lays foundation for integrated check-post

2 September 2011, 18:00 PM

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, his Bangladesh counterpart Shahara Khatun and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the unveiling of the Foundation Stone for the construction of an Integrated check post (ICP) at Petrapole (India-Bangladesh Border) in West Bengal on August 27, 2011. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

UNION Home Minister P. Chidambaram laid the foundation stone for a Rs. 172-crore integrated check-post (ICP) at the India-Bangladesh international border here on Saturday in an effort to boost bilateral ties, ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's scheduled visit to Bangladesh on September 6. "In the last many years, both the countries have striven to strengthen relations…several new agreements will be signed between the two countries during the Prime Minister's historic visit to Bangladesh… Mr. Chidambaram expressed the hope that both the Prime Minister's visit and the setting up of the ICP would augment trade relations and tourism and result in rapid multiplication of the bilateral trade volume… The ICP project, which is part of the government of India's initiative for better border management to put in place systems which address both security concerns, as well as facilitate cross-border trade and commerce, is expected to be completed in 17 months. An ICP is envisaged to discharge sovereign functions of security checking, immigration, customs and quarantine apart from providing facilities for smooth cross-border movement of persons, goods and transport. The ICP here will be one of the 13 similar ICPs to be set up on the borders between India and Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar as part of a plan with an initial outlay of Rs. 635 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan. Out of the 13 ICPs, seven will be set up on the India-Bangladesh border... Source: thehindu.com