The commerce ministry is working on a Cabinet note to bring integrated check posts and land customs stations under its aegis to simplify cross-border movement of goods with India’s neighbours.
The newly-set up logistics division has proposed to take over the existing six inland customs ports (ICPs) run by the Land Ports Authority of India under the home ministry and 85 land customs stations run by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. “We propose to bring both of these under the commerce ministry. We are preparing a cabinet note,” said an official in the know of the development.
All ICPs have passenger and freight processing facilities such as cargo process buildings, cargo inspection sheds, warehouses, cold storages, quarantine, currency exchange counters, clearing agents, banks and vehicle scanners, and are set up in border states to encourage trade with Saarc countries. The official said there is no mandate to a single agency to manage all the facilities in LCS.
