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Jogbani (Bihar), June 24 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs M. Ramachandran laid foundation stone for the construction of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Bihar’s Jogbani area on the Indo-Nepal border on Thursday.

The setting up of ICPs along India’s international border is being seen as a major initiative, which the Centre has taken as part of a Plan scheme with an initial outlay of Rs.635 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan.

The Jogbani ICP is the second ICP in Bihar and the third in the country after the Attari (Punjab) and Raxaul (Bihar) ICPs where construction is being undertaken.

According to the Union Home Ministry, the estimated cost of the Jogbani project is Rs. 82.49 crore.

The ICP at Jogbani, spread over nearly 190 acres of land, is expected to be completed by August, 2011.

The home ministry said that the Department of Border Management has finalized the Detailed Project Reports for the 13 ICPs to be set up on the borders between India and Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar.

The ICPs are envisaged to overcome the infrastructural bottlenecks at the various entry and exit points on the land borders of the country and are expected to provide facilities for effective and efficient discharge of sovereign functions such as security, immigration, customs, quarantine, etc. while also providing support facilities for smooth cross-border movement of persons, goods and transport.

A Bill has been introduced in Parliament for the establishment of a Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), which has been envisaged as a statutory body for the planning, construction, maintenance and management of these ICPs.

This body will be vested with powers on the lines of similar bodies like the Airports Authority of India.

Home Ministry said that till the LPAI comes into existence, an Empowered Steering Committee has been constituted under the Secretary (Border Management) to undertake the functions that will be ultimately discharged by the LPAI. (ANI)