West Bengal land ports to prioritise Siliguri Corridor security, says LPAI chair Jayant Singh

Land Ports Authority of India chair Jayant Singh said West Bengal will be prioritised for upcoming land ports due to the sensitive Siliguri Corridor and borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. He said 15 land ports are operational nationwide, with 11 more planned in three years, alongside BIM Border Infrastructure and Management and LPMS Vinimay rollout.

West Bengal is set to stay central to India’s next phase of land port development. LPAI chairperson Jayant Singh said the state’s position near the Siliguri Corridor needs extra attention. Singh spoke while launching the Land Port Management System, LPMS Vinimay. Singh said the corridor’s shared borders add security and planning demands.

Singh said India now has 15 operational land ports. Singh also said 11 more land ports are planned within three years. The launch event highlighted how the new digital platform is meant to support faster processing. It also aims to improve coordination at border crossings with growing cargo and passenger movement.

West Bengal land ports focus and the Siliguri Corridor

"In phase one and in the current phase, Bengal will be our focus because of its important geographical location, having Bangladesh on one side, Bhutan on one side and Nepal on another and we have to secure the Siliguri Corridor. Seeing its sensitivity, we need huge BIM Border Infrastructure and Management,\" he said.

Singh said the goal is to convert key border crossings into a multimodel corridor. Singh said this could support movement across multiple transport modes. Singh named Raxaul, Birganj, and Jogbani as part of the plan. Singh also linked the work to the wider development of the Siliguri Corridor region.

Singh also pointed to economic uses linked to land ports in West Bengal. Singh said Petrapole and Ghojadanga land ports have 20-22 acres available. Singh said this land could support a textile cluster. Singh linked such projects to building land posts into hubs along economic corridors.

LPMS Vinimay and land ports digital workflows

The LPMS is expected to improve coordination between agencies and private operators. It aims to cut waiting time and reduce delays. The platform will support end-to-end digital workflows for cargo and passengers. It will cover slot booking, payments, tracking, and single-window clearances.

A Home Ministry statement said LPMS is integrated with ICEGATE, ULIP, and the motor vehicle ecosystem. The ministry said this will support interoperable and transparent border management. It also said the platform allows secure, real-time exchange of logistics and regulatory data. The ministry said it aligns land ports with systems used at airports and seaports.

The Home Ministry said the project reflects the Modi Government’s focus on smart border management. The ministry said the system is designed to integrate operations across Land Ports in one system. The ministry also described it as a modern, technology-enabled border management system. The ministry said it supports trade facilitation, connectivity, national security, and Viksit Bharat.

With inputs from PTI