Indian govt hands over ICP

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Apr. 23: The government of India has handed over the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Nepalgunj to the government of Nepal on Monday. 

About a year after its inauguration, the government of India handed over the ICP to Nepal, which will help in smooth cross-border movement of goods. During his visit to India on June 3, 2023, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had jointly inaugurated the Integrated Check Post (ICP) via virtual means from New Delhi, India.

However, India did not hand it over to Nepal as many of the construction works were incomplete.

Ashish Gajurel, executive director of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, said that almost all construction works have been completed, and India has handed over the ICP to Nepal following widespread pressure.

According to him, Gulab Prajapati, General Manager of Government of India Construction Project Rights Limited, handed over the ICP to Bijay Keshar Khanal, Head of Federal Project Implementation Unit Banke, Government of Nepal, during a ceremony.

Following the handover of the ICP from India, Khanal handed over the ICP to Yuvak Dangol, the Director of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee.

The Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee has made a request to transfer the operational responsibility of the ICP to Amit Gupta, the representative of TRS Atlas Logicpat Pvt.

Gupta said that preparations have been started to bring the ICP into operation within 15 days.

With the support of the Government of India, construction of the checkpoint commenced on November 25, 2020, and was officially inaugurated on June 3, 2023. The checkpoint was constructed by Rajdeep Buildcon Construction Company at an approximate cost of two billion Indian rupees.

The ICP, spread in an area of 88 bighas in Rupaidiha and Nepalgunj along the Nepal-India border, has been constructed to accommodate staff from various departments, including customs, immigration, plant and animal quarantine, banking facilities, food technology, quality control office, as well as barracks for Nepal Police and Armed Police personnel.