In a significant development, Land Ports, also known as Integrated Check Posts (ICPs), played a pivotal role in fostering trade and travel in India during 2023. According to a report obtained by ANI, these land ports, managed by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), contributed to a staggering trade value of Rs 76,000 crore and facilitated the movement of approximately 24 lakh passengers.
The report highlights that the remarkable trade and passenger movement were primarily driven by six to seven of the 11 operational land ports in India. Among them, Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Sutarkandi, and Srimantapur played a key role in registering substantial trade figures in the year 2023.
An official from LPAI informed ANI that Raxaul and Petrapole emerged as the leading contributors, jointly accounting for over Rs 60,000 crore in trade. The total trade registered in the fiscal year 2022-2023 amounted to Rs 76,319.2 crore, with 24,79,180 passengers recorded during the same period.
The breakdown of trade figures for 2022-2023 revealed that Raxaul and Petrapole land ports reported Rs 33,882.2 crore and Rs 30,378 crore in trade, respectively. Jogbani followed with Rs 8,747 crore, Attari with Rs 2,257.2 crore, Agartala with Rs 471.8 crore, Sutarkandi with Rs 410.6 crore, and Srimantapur with Rs 172.2 crore.
Passenger movements were also significant, with major activity noted at Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur, and Dera Baba Nanak. Petrapole and Agartala took the lead in passenger movements, recording 19,37,414 and 3,16,448 movements, respectively, in 2023.
Established in 2012 under the Department of Border Management and the Ministry of Home Affairs, LPAI has been instrumental in developing state-of-the-art infrastructure at land ports. This includes Cargo Terminal Buildings, Passenger Terminal Buildings, mechanized equipment for cargo handling, and robust security and surveillance through CCTV cameras. The organization also provides housing and accommodation facilities for border guarding forces, along with amenities such as canteens, restrooms, and forex counters.
From just two land ports in 2012, India now boasts 11 operational land ports along its borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
