In 2023, Land Ports, also referred to as Integrated Check Posts (ICPs), played a pivotal role in facilitating trade amounting to Rs 76,000 crore and accommodating the movement of approximately 24 lakh passengers, as revealed in a report accessed by states. This significant trade activity underscores the commendable performance of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), entrusted with overseeing trade and travel through the country’s land ports.
The trade and passenger movement were primarily conducted through six to seven of the 11 operational land ports in India, namely Attari, Agartala, Dawki, Petrapole, Raxaul, Rupaidiha, Jogbani, Moreh, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur, and PTB at Dera Baba Nanak.
Among these, the report disclosed that major trade occurred through Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Sutarkandi, and Srimantapur in 2023. Raxaul and Petrapole, in particular, jointly accounted for over Rs 60,000 crore in trade.
The total trade registered in 2022-2023 amounted to Rs 76,319.2 crore, accompanied by the movement of 24,79,180 passengers during the same period. Raxaul and Petrapole led in trade with Rs 33,882.2 crore and Rs 30,378 crore, respectively, followed by Jogbani, Attari, Agartala, Sutarkandi, and Srimantapur.
In terms of passenger movement, Petrapole and Agartala recorded the highest figures in 2023, with 19,37,414 and 3,16,448 passenger movements, respectively. Dera Baba Nanak, Attari, Srimantapur, and Sutarkandi also contributed significantly to passenger movement during the same period.
Established in 2012 under the Department of Border Management and the Ministry of Home Affairs, LPAI has been instrumental in developing state-of-the-art infrastructure across land ports, including Cargo Terminal Buildings, Passenger Terminal Buildings, mechanized equipment for cargo handling, security and surveillance through CCTV cameras, accommodation for border guarding forces, and facilities such as canteens, restrooms, and forex counters.
From having just two land ports in 2012, India now boasts 11 operational land ports along its borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.