Pantoka ICP likely to become operational from June 3

Satish Sharma
Raxaul: A  modern  hi-tech  integrated  check- post  (ICP)  constructed  at Pantoka near  Raxaul  on Indo-Nepal border  at a cost of  Rs 120 crore  in an area of 250 acre  is likely to become operational from June 3. Union home minister Rajnath Singh is likely to inaugurate it.

Vinayak Chandra Gupta , Commissioner, Customs, Patna, said  that the tentative  date to open this ICP is  June 3. This  ICP, second of its kind in the country after Atari, was supposed to be completed in 2011  but was delayed. Talking to mediapersons at Raxaul in East Champaran district after inspecting the  new ICP,  Gupta said that it was ready for operation but the ICP  at Birgunj, Nepal,  was still under der construction  so  the cargoes  and other goods for Nepal  will be checked at Raxaul ICP  and will enter Nepal through old customs check post till that check-post is completed. He, however,  said the goods imported from Nepal will enter Bihar through old customs check-post for the time being. He  discussed the matter at a high level meeting at Raxaul with A K Singh, IG, SSB , R K Singh, Assistant commissioner, customs, senior high officials of Landport authority of India and  local administrative and police
officials.

The completion   of this ICP was   delayed  five years  due to the farmers agitation seeking clearance of  their arrears  for the land acquired from them for the construction of the check-post in 2010.  According to  the engineers of the  company involved in the construction of the ICP,  the  project was completed  in June 2015  but there was no road connectivity to the  site from Indian side . The NHI28A  from Piprakothi  to  Raxaul ICP  is under
construction for the last three years  and only recently it has become moterable. The NHI 28A  from Laxmipur to Raxaul  ICP  in 7km has been constructed recently.

The then  union home minister  P Chidambaram  had laid the foundation stone o this ICP  at Pantoka in Raxaul on April 14 , 2010,  to provide facilities like security , immigration, customs ,and quarantine for smooth cross border movement of foreign goods and transport to Nepal  from India.

This ICP is equipped  with high power Xray machines , security gadgets, banks , sheds , parkings , 11 roads
for arrival and departure  of cargo, to facilitate trade  between Indi and Nepal.
countries . `