Nepalgunj: Minister for Urban Development Krishna Gopal Shrestha and Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal jointly witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Nepalgunj on Thursday.
The ICP is being built on either side of the Indo-Nepal border to systematize the movement of cross-border cargo trucks between the two countries by bringing customs and immigration facilities under one roof.
Earlier, with the assistance of Indian government, the ICPs at Birgunj and Biratnagar were jointly inaugurated and operationalized in April 2018 and January 2020 respectively by Prime Ministers of India and Nepal, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
When the ICP at Nepalgunj completes, it will have export and import cargo handling facilities such as warehousing, including refrigerated cargo facilities, medical, plant and animal quarantine areas, amenities for drivers and passenger, CCTV and other security systems, 24/7 power backup, waste-water treatment facilities, etc. to facilitate smooth movement of cargo and passenger vehicles.
The facility is envisaged to promote systematic approach to cargo handling and, therefore, will result in saving of time and inconvenience to visitors and reduce overall transaction costs for cross-border trade and commerce.
The Pune-based Indian company, Rajdeep Buildcon Pvt. Ltd, is implementing the project. The estimated cost of the project is NRs 2354 million. It is expected to be completed in two years.
During the construction period, the ICP Nepalgunj project is expected to create local employment and boost local economy by job creation and also supply of essential raw material and items from local markets.
Overall the facility created under the project is envisaged to promote cross-border trade and economic activities between India and Nepal.
On the occasion, Minister Shrestha expressed the belief that the ICP would be a significant assistance to the development of bilateral trade and people’s movement.
Similarly, Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Goyal announced that India would take up the construction of a fourth ICP at Bhairahawa in Nepal under Indian funding. Presently, the execution modalities and implementing agency for the project are under consideration, he added.
