All 77 integrated check posts computerized: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Nov.30 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that steps are being taken to improve immigration procedures.

He said that at the end of November, the government has computerized all 77 integrated check posts (ICPs), and added that the Muhurighat (Tripura) and Lalgolaghat (West Bengal) ICPs were networked with Central Foreigners' Bureau (CFB), taking the total of CFB-networked ICPs to 70 out of a total of 77.

He also said that during November, a new service 'Online Indian Citizenship' was introduced to enable persons to file applications online for grant of Indian citizenship.

He said that this new service would ensure: Faster and uniform processing of applications for grant of Indian citizenship; easy monitoring and tracking of cases; generation of accurate MIS reports and creation and maintenance of centralized database of citizenship granted to the foreigners.

He also said that the online visa application system has been operationalized since November 23 in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh under the High Commission of India, London.

He said that in the month of November, the government had released and repatriated 54 Pakistani fishermen and 10 Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan through Attari border after completion of their sentences.

So far, in 2010, Government has released and repatriated 111 Pakistani fishermen and 106 Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan, he added. (ANI)