Description

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Context:

The Union Home Minister recently inaugurated a new Passenger Terminal Building and Maitri Dwar at Integrated Check Post (ICP) Petrapole in West Bengal.

Land Port Authority of India (LPAI)

The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) is a statutory body, which was formed under the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010 and operationalised in 2012.

It functions under the Department of Border Management of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was established as per the recommendation of the Committee of Secretaries in 2003.

It develops Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at major entry points along the borders of India in order to streamline and secure cross-border movement.

Integrated Check Posts (ICPs):

ICPs created by the LPAI provide secure and very systematic facilities for passenger and cargo movement, which ensures ease of trade and travel.

ICPs contain important facilities which include warehouses, container depots, cargo complexes, hotels, and restrooms, which provide improved traveller convenience.

Development of Integrated Check Posts:

Currently, India is operating 9 ICPs which are Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Moreh, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur, and Dera Baba Nanak (Kartarpur Corridor).

Following is the list of ICPs and their location:

Serial No.	Location of ICP	State	Bordering State	Present Status
1.	Attari (Amritsar)	Punjab	Pakistan	Operational. Petrapole is the biggest and busiest land port in India and South Asia and it is very vital for India-Bangladesh trade. Petrapole also handles 70% of India-Bangladesh land trade
2.	Agartala( Also capital city)	Tripura	Bangladesh
3.	Petrapole( 24 Parganas, West Bengal)	West Bengal	Bangladesh
4.	Raxaul	Bihar	Nepal
5.	Jogbani	Bihar	Nepal
6.	Moreh	Manipur	Myanmar
7.	Dawki	Meghalaya	Bangladesh	Under construction
8.	Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Dera Baba Nanak	Punjab	Pakistan	It is used only for facilitating the pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib ji located in Pakistan.
9.	Rupaidiha	Uttar Pradesh	Nepal	Under construction. After, operationalization, Rupaidiha will be the third Land Port in the Indo and Nepal border
10.	Sunauli	Uttar Pradesh	Nepal
11.	Sutarkandi	Assam	Bangladesh	Operational
12.	Srimantapur	Tripura	Bangladesh	Operational

Significance of LPAI in Border Areas:

LPAI is crucial for connecting India with neighbouring countries and in promoting legal trade to prevent illegal activities in border areas and facilitating cultural exchange.
It facilitates border security and legal trade and promotes prosperity and peace with neighbouring countries.
Its work aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of development and security along international borders.
It operates on the 4-P mantra of the Prime minister: Prosperity, Peace, Partnership, and Progress.

ICPs and LPAI are thus important to enhance legal trade, create jobs in various sectors such as warehousing and transportation, and promote local businesses.

Sources:

PIB

WIKIPEDIA

INDIACODE

PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI):

It is a statutory body under the Department of Border Management of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It develops Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at major entry points along the borders of India.
Petrapole is the second busiest land port in India.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C. All Three

D.None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct:

The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) is a statutory body, which was formed under the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010 and operationalised in 2012.

It functions under the Department of Border Management of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It was established as per the recommendation of the Committee of Secretaries in 2003.

Statement 2 is correct:

It develops Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at major entry points along the borders of India in order to streamline and secure cross-border movement.

Integrated Check Posts (ICPs):

ICPs created by the LPAI provide secure and very systematic facilities for passenger and cargo movement, which ensures ease of trade and travel.

ICPs contain important facilities which include warehouses, container depots, cargo complexes, hotels, and restrooms, which provide improved traveller convenience.

Statement 3 is incorrect:

Currently, India is operating 9 ICPs which are Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Moreh, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur, and Dera Baba Nanak (Kartarpur Corridor).

Petrapole is the biggest and busiest land port in India and South Asia and it is very vital for India-Bangladesh trade