Ravinder Singh*
The Cabinet Committee on
Security (CCS), in the year 2006, approved ‘in principle’ the setting up of
Integrated Check Posts at 13 locations and Land Ports Authority of India as a
statutory body. Integrated Check Posts are being constructed as a Plan scheme
with an initial outlay of Rs. 635 crore during the 11th Five Year
Plan. In the initial phase, 13 Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) were envisaged at
major designated entry/exit points along India’s international land border.
Of these, 7 ICPs are to be constructed in Phase I and 6 ICPs in Phase II. ICP
Attari is the first to be completed. The other six ICPs planned in the first
phase are, Raxaul and Jogbani in Bihar,
Agartala (Tripura), Petrapole (West Bengal),
Dawki (Meghalya) and Moreh (Manipur).
Need for ICPs
Existing designated entry and exit points on the
international borders are characterized by unplanned growth leading to delays
and traffic jams. The need to develop infrastructure was recognized by the
Government and after due consultations and deliberations, the concept of
Integrated Check Post was devised.
ICP is conceived as a
sanitized zone having adequate passenger and freight processing facilities. The
term integration refers to integration of sovereign functions and not of
inter-modal integration of several transport modes such as; rail, road
waterways etc.
The ICP concept being new
in the country, the planning was carried out through regular consultations with
sovereign authorities and stake holders. The plans thus prepared were
deliberated at length by Empowered Steering Committee before approving them.
Facilitating
Movement of Vehicles Across Border
The Western and Eastern
border of India
has the peculiarity of restriction on vehicles of originating country to be
allowed beyond a designated point in the destination country. The planning of
ICP at these locations provides solution to this limitation. In these situations, while most of our neighboring
countries are relying on solution linked to time separation, we have adopted
the space separation approach. The solution involves provision of separate
delivery and collection zone within ICP. This is achieved by treating passenger
terminal and warehouse as interface where, unloading is done along one face and
loading on the other face.
Efficiency Inducing
The ICPs along Nepal Border are planned along the
concept of primary and secondary checks to induce efficiency in regulatory
process. This concept is similar to RED channel and GREEN channel witnessed at
the airports. Government has initially identified 13 locations along the land
borders of India
seven out of the thirteen are placed under priority.
First at Attari
ICP Attari is the first
one to be completed and was inaugurated by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram
on April 13, 2012 in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,
Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Commerce Minister of Pakistan Makdoom
Amin Fahim and Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab Province Md.
Shahbaz Sharif. It has been constructed at a cost of about Rs.150 crores and is
spread over 118 acres with dedicated passenger terminal building. Like
other border crossing points, the existing facilities at Attari were also
constrained. The Integrated Check Post not only provides planned and integrated
facilities but also offer a new international gate removing restriction of
timing.
The earlier
arrangement did pose lot of strain on passengers crossing on foot, as
they had to walk substantial distance to come to the existing custom building.
The ICP Attari offers dedicated vehicles between Gate and passenger terminal.
This would not only offer comfort to the passengers but also ensure orderly
movement within ICP, removing avoidable burden on the security. The issue of movement of these vehicles from
Wagah terminal to Attari terminal is already taken up with Pakistan and a
favorable resolution is anticipated.
Passenger Terminal
Building
The
passenger terminal building is the focal point of passenger processing zone. It
is a two storied building with total 9600 sq. m. area. The passenger terminal
is planned on the lines of airport terminals. The Building has two wings, one
for departing passenger and other for arriving passengers. Each wing has eight
Immigration counters, two Baggage scanners and six customs counters. Numbers of
these processing units are derived methodically by considering the average
process time. The health facilities for detection isolation and reporting are
provided in conformity to International obligations, besides providing basic
medical assistance to passengers. The terminal offers linear flow with
strategically placed signage for passenger guidance. Passenger facilities such
as Baggage trolleys, Duty free shops, dispensers for foods & beverages,
toilets, etc. are integral part of terminal facilities. Paraplegic facilities
such as ramps, wheelchairs, handicapped toilets are included in the passenger
terminal. It also has Tourist Information Centre, Vending Machines, Prayer Room and Child Care
Room.
Jattha sheds have been provided along each face of
the building to provide shelter and regulated flow of passengers into the
terminal, to deal with sudden influx of passenger flow due to movement of
pilgrimage groups.
Cargo Terminal
Cargo terminal building is
a one and half storied structure, having total area of 4800 sqm. Unlike
Passenger Terminal, Cargo terminal is an office complex having dedicated spaces
for Sovereign agencies, Bank, Cargo handling agents etc. The cargo zone has
total 55,000 sqm of parking area and warehouses having total area of 10,800 sqm.
Majority of these warehouses are meant for receipt, inspection,
trans-shipment and delivery of imported
goods. Cold storage of 1500 MT capacity spread over 5 chambers, for perishable
imported goods is part of cargo processing facility.
The flexible planning of ICP afforded development
of segregated area to handle cargo in loose form. An area of 12000 sqm is
developed with separate access system for Indian and Pakistani trucks, without
disturbing the original traffic flow. An area of 99000 sqm is available for
future augmentation of capacities.
Quarantine
Facilities
The quarantine facilities
including fumigation shed are part of ICP. Basic amenities for the truckers are
available on arrival and departure side both.
Proper
Surveillance
For the surveillance of the area, CCTV cameras and
PA system are provided at strategic locations. 230
CCTV cameras have been placed at different locations for security. Control
points on the road network are regulated through automatic boom barriers. Fire
fighting and fire alarm system is in place. The complex is supported by 1800
KVA Electric sub-station with 100% power backup. A helipad is developed within
the complex for quick and direct access to the complex.
Green Belt
Large green areas
are being developed along both the faces of terminal building to offer a visual
treat to the passengers. The building bears resemblance to the structures in
Lutyen’s Delhi.
The concept of providing such facade was selected to represent strength and
receptiveness of the country. The road network in front of building is
meticulously planned for each type of movement with no conflicts.
Construction of ICPs
The construction of ICPs began in
Feb’ 2010 and the period of construction envisaged was 14 months. However, as
ICP Attari was the first project on a newly devised concept. The project
started evolving with construction, additional works were identified, as
necessary and were and ordered. Besides this, the ICP had bilateral issues such
as, the joint agreement on location of new international gate and construction
close to zero line. These bilateral issues took longer than anticipated.
However, the construction was done expeditiously, accommodating the extra work
and other impediments.
Frequent reviews, inspections
were conducted by Senior Administrators and Engineers during the construction
to ensure that the construction is progressing on agreed lines. Bilateral
platform was formulated and frequent meetings were held to resolve the issues,
acquire understanding, and update construction plans.
ICP Attari is a modern facility and is being appreciated by all
concerned. With the completion of ICP, the larger picture that shall emerge now
would depend on efficiency of operations and the capacity constraint on other
side of the border, if any.
Land Ports Authority of India
The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) is to provide better
administration and cohesive management of entry points/land ports and entrusted
with the task of development and management of Integrated Check Posts on the
land borders and would be vested with the powers on the lines of similar bodies
like Airports Authority of India. The Land Ports Authority of India has been
established from 1st March, 2012 as a statutory body which will function as a
body corporate under the administrative control of the Department of Border
Management, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Other Agencies Involved
As regards running the ICP efficiently sovereign authorities are already
moving in, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) is given the
responsibility to function as custodian in accordance with customs regulations.
Indian Railways
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been given the responsibility of catering
and passenger facilitation.
The capacity harmonization issues are already
flagged in recent meetings with Pakistani delegation. The valuable experience
gained during the planning and construction of ICP Attari is being used in
other ICP projects. (PIB Feature.)
*****
Click here to see Photographs of ICP Attari
*Director
(M&C), PIB, New Delhi.
SS-73/SF-73/25-04-2012
RTS/HSN