India to set up 11 new land ports along its borders: Amit Shah
At present, India has 15 functional land ports along its borders
India said on Tuesday that 11 new land ports along its borders are expected to be operational in the next two to three years.
This was stated by Home Minister Amit Shah as he launched, online, the Land Ports Authority Management System (LPMS), a modern, digital, integrated and real-time management system for India's land ports, bringing all stakeholders onto a single platform.
At present, India has 15 functional land ports along its borders.
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The minister did not name the places where the new land ports would come up. India shares land borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and Pakistan.
Shah said LPMS would provide an integrated digital platform for the management of cargo, passengers and vehicles, enhance coordination among various agencies and make the exchange of information seamless.
He said trade through the land ports has risen from Rs 5,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 83,000 crore, reflecting a 16-fold growth.
The home minister said nearly 90% of paperwork will be eliminated after the launch of LPMS. The single electronic window and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)-based gate operation system will result in significant time savings.
The waiting time for trucks is expected to reduce by approximately 40% to 60%, while gate processing time will reduce by 22% to 35%.
Shah framed the Land Port Authority in a security-centric context, saying the Home Ministry is working on a four-pronged strategy to secure India's borders under the concept of smart borders and the authority is set to play a crucial role in realising this smart border vision.
He said land ports were developed as the first line of defence for security, a means to facilitate trade, and a bridge for people-to-people connectivity. At the same time, land ports have played a significant role in the holistic development of border areas, promoting legitimate trade and addressing challenges such as migration from border villages and districts.
Shah said LPMS and the smart border initiative will together create a more secure and modern border management system and help curb illegal activities and ensure the establishment of a robust and secure framework.
