India to set up 11 new land ports along its borders
Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement while launching the Land Ports Authority Management System (LPMS).
India on Tuesday (9 June) said that 11 new land ports along its borders are expected to become operational within the next two to three years.
Home Minister Amit Shah made the announcement while launching the Land Ports Authority Management System (LPMS), a modern, integrated, real-time digital platform for managing India's land ports by bringing all stakeholders onto a single system.
India currently has 15 functional land ports along its borders.
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Shah said the LPMS would provide an integrated digital platform for managing cargo, passengers and vehicles, while enhancing coordination among various agencies and enabling seamless information exchange.
He noted that trade through land ports has increased from Rs5,000 crore in 2014 to Rs83,000 crore at present, marking a 16-fold rise.
According to the home minister, nearly 90% of paperwork will be eliminated following the launch of LPMS.
The introduction of a single electronic window and an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)-based gate operation system is also expected to significantly reduce processing times.
Truck waiting times are projected to fall by 40% to 60%, while gate processing times are expected to decrease by 22% to 35%.
Framing the Land Port Authority within a security-focused approach, Shah said the Home Ministry is pursuing a four-pronged strategy to secure India's borders under the concept of smart borders, with the Authority playing a key role in realising that vision.
He said land ports have been developed as the first line of defence for national security, while also facilitating trade and strengthening people-to-people connectivity.
At the same time, they have contributed to the overall development of border areas by promoting legitimate trade and helping address challenges such as migration from border villages and districts.
Shah said LPMS and the smart border initiative would together create a more secure and modern border management system, helping curb illegal activities and establish a robust security framework.
