Why is it in the news?

• The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) released a report titled ‘Engendering Land Ports in India’ in New Delhi, focusing on developing a gender-inclusive framework for cross-border trade and tourism.

Land Ports in India (Integrated Check Posts – ICPs)

• Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) are commonly known as land ports in India.
• There are a total of 11 operational land ports, strategically located along the international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• The key locations include Attari, Agartala, Dawki, Petrapole, Raxaul, Rupaidiha, Jogbani, Moreh, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur, and the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at Dera Baba Nanak.
• The infrastructure at land ports includes Cargo Terminal Buildings, Passenger Terminal Buildings, mechanized equipment for cargo handling, security and surveillance facilities, and forex counters.
• These facilities collectively contribute to the efficient and secure movement of goods and passengers across international borders.

Need for Land Ports in India

• India shares a vast international land border of over 15,000 km with seven South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Inadequate infrastructure at designated border checkpoints has historically been a major hindrance to regional trade, impacting the smooth movement of goods and passengers.
• To address these challenges, the Committee of Secretaries recommended the establishment of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) in 2003, aimed at providing state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities.