Nepal Prime Minister KP Shama Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi are scheduled to inaugurate the Raxual-based Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Birgunj, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The then Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna had laid the foundation stone of the ICP on April 22, 2011.
Spread in 115 bighas of land, the traffic congestion along the Nepal-India border point would be eased after the opening of the ICP.
“Once the ICP comes into operation, International trade will be eased and the country’s export to India will be increased,” an official at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies told The Kathmandu Post.
The construction of ICP in Nepal was started one-and-a-half year late than the Indian side due to land compensation dispute in Sirsiya of Birgunj, Madhes agitation and economic blockade among others, while the ICP in Raxual of Indian side was constructed in May 2016 and has already been handed over to the Indian customs.
The ICP of Nepal was handed over to the Nepal Intermodal Transportation Development Committee under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies last week.
One the ICP becomes functional, different routes will be used to the import and export the materials. Likewise, all kinds of gadgets needed for the automated customs system will also be installed.
Service seekers will reap benefits as all the quarantine offices of livestock, food, and plant including the immigration office will be at the same premise.
Constructed with a cost of Rs 4 billion, Nepal was given the responsibility to provide land compensation while the responsibility of constructing the infrastructure was given to India.
Nepal and India had agreed to construct ICP in Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj in 2006.
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