Customs station to be converted into integrated checkpost in NE

Aizawl, Oct 25 (UNI) Union Commerce Ministry has decided to convert four Land Customs Stations (LCS) of Northeast into Integrated Check Posts (ICP) to boost economic ties with South East Asian countries.

Referring to the recent communique of the ministry's state officials here today said the decision to convert 13 LCS across the country including all four of NE is going to develop important border points into full-fledged townships by next two years.

According to plan the ICPs would act as a single window facilitator for exports at border points including customs, immigration and warehousing, health facilities, a shopping complex, parking facilities, electronic data interference and other modern infrastructure.

Rites, engineering and technology consultancy firm of Indian Railways was assigned the task to upgrade the LCS into ICPs and Rs 854 crore proposal was awaiting Cabinet approval, officials said.

Record shows, there is export worth Rs 1,000 crore from the Northeast, with tea products leading the chart, followed by coal at present and flowers, including other horticultural products and handicraft of the region are marked as most potential sector.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank had identified pineapple, bamboo and rubber cultivated in the NE as having maximum export potential and the arrangements has already been made with a Bangladeshi firm for supplying about 80,000 tonnes of bamboo chips from Mizoram, sources added.

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