Over two years after the laying of its foundation stone, the stage is set for the opening of India’s first Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari. The border town is buzzing with activity on the eve of its inauguration ceremony that will see prominent political personalities, diplomats and government officials from the two countries participating in it tomorrow.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram would inaugurate the ICP at 4 pm. Four more Union ministers, including Anand Sharma (Commerce), Ashwani Kumar (Parliamentary Affairs and Planning), Preneet Kaur (Minister of State, External Affairs) and M Ramachandran (MoS, Home) would also grace the occasion. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will also be present.
The ICP inauguration will also have dignitaries from across the border, including Pakistan Commerce Minister Makdoom Amin Fahim and Punjab (Pakistan) CM Shahbaz Sharif. Military bands will also perform to add colour to the ceremony.
Border Management Secretary AE Ahmed, who took stock of the preparations here today, said the high commissioners of both the countries would also participate in the event. “Apart from them, Punjab ministers, MPs and MLAs of the area will also be present.” A day before the inauguration, the security forces, including the BSF and the Punjab Police, beefed up security arrangements across the length and breadth of the ICP.
DIG (Border Range) Ram Singh said around 800 policemen have been deployed at the ICP for the programme, besides the three BSF companies that are already guarding the check post.
The long queues of trucks, which were a regular feature on the road leading to the Attari check post, have been cleared and all the trucks awaiting clearance for export to Pakistan have been accommodated inside the ICP, which has a holding area of 500 trucks each for import and export. Final touches are being given to the ‘pandal’ being erected for the inaugural ceremony. The ceremony will see a small gathering of selected people from different walks of life, numbering around 2,000, which is also evident from the size of the ‘pandal’ and the chairs being lined up under it. A separate ‘pandal’ has been put up to facilitate media briefing by the Union ministers after the inaugural ceremony.
Meanwhile, one can sense the euphoria that the ICP has generated in this border town. Balwinder Singh, a third generation porter at the ICP hailing from Attari, said, “It will bring in more employment opportunities for the local residents, besides increasing the volume of trade.” He said his ancestors too worked as porters here and they also remember the times when there was not much trade and they even struggled for two square meals a day.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE FACILITY
Total area: 118 acres- Passenger terminal building: 9,600 square metres
- No. of immigration counters: 8 each for arrival & departure
- No. of Customs counters: 6 each for arrival & departure
- Baggage scanner: 2 each for arrival and departure
- Cargo building: 4,700 sq m
- Import warehouse: 7,400 sq m
- Export warehouse: 3,400 sqm
- Parking for Pakistani trucks: 4,500 sq m
- Parking for import collection Indian trucks: 4,600 sq m
- Area for loose cargo: 18,000 sq m
- Area for future expansion: 99,000 sq m
- Other buildings & facilities: Jatha sheds, dispensary, dormitory and quarantine building, toilet blocks, MT Pool, tourist information centre, vending machines, prayer room & a child-care room
- Security check: Four rummaging sheds (two single bay and two double bay)
- Area lighting and fire fighting system
- Weigh bridges: 80 T-2
- No. of CCTV cameras for security: 230
- Automatic boom barriers: 17
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