Figure 42 Location of ICPs along Indian Borders

The existing infrastructure available with Customs, Immigration, and other regulatory agencies at land border entry points is generally insufficient. Warehouses, parking lots, banks, and hotels, among other amenities, are either inadequate or non-existent. Generally, all regulatory and support functions are not available in a single complex. Even when they are in close proximity, there is no single agency in charge of coordinating the operations of various Government authorities/service providers. To address this situation, the government has approved the establishment of 13 ICPs at major entry points along the country's land borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar at a total estimated cost of Rs.734 crore. (MHA 2011)

Figure 42 Location of ICPs along Indian Borders

ICPs are potable zones at border crossings with satisfactory freight and passenger distribution centers. They integrate three crucial border-related functions:

• Customs: By using a monitoring mechanism and installed equipment, cargo/goods carried by vehicles, valuable personal items of passengers, and currency can be cleared. • Immigration: Passports, visas, and passenger identification are checked. • Border Security: For maintaining security, preventing the flow of illegal arms and other lethal weapons, and assisting customs and immigration. The ICPs aim to support the systematic, seamless, and secure movement of goods and people across borders by ensuring efficient passenger flow, providing adequate passenger facilities, regularizing processes, maximizing facility use, systemizing support facilities, and improving traffic flow.(Sinha 2000) To encourage trade, ICPs must have the following facilities: warehouses and open yards for the storage of goods; parking facilities for the smooth flow of