The Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman undertook a two-day visit to the state, focusing on
inspecting the Srimantapur Integrated Check Post (ICP) and the landport station in Sonamura under Sepahijala district. The ICP is a vital location along the India-Bangladesh border that facilitates trade and the movement of passengers between the two nations.
During her visit, Sitharaman personally inspected various facilities at the Srimantapur ICP, including the ongoing construction of a jetty on the Gomati River. She engaged in discussions with concerned officials, addressing issues related to the ICP’s operations and the steady growth in passenger movement and trade between India and Bangladesh.
The Srimantapur ICP operates in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF), Customs, and the Land Port Authority of India, ensuring smooth movement of passengers and trade activities. To commemorate her visit, the Finance Minister released a booklet titled “Connecting Borders,” which features all functional land customs stations in the Northeast region.
Union Finance Minister Sitharaman also visited the zero point along the Indo-Bangladesh border at pillar number 2083, where she was welcomed by the Border Guard Bangladesh with a bouquet of flowers. Notably, she had previously inaugurated the Srimantapur landport station on January 6, 2016, during her tenure as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce.
Yogendra Garg, Chief Commissioner of Central GST and Central Excise of the North East region, highlighted the Finance Minister’s keen interest in improving facilities at the ICP. Sitharaman expressed her satisfaction with the station’s performance in terms of passenger and trade flow and provided valuable insights on enhancing its efficiency.
In the fiscal year 2022–23, the Srimantapur ICP witnessed a remarkable increase in passenger movement, with 26,405 arrivals from Bangladesh and 25,582 outgoing passengers. Additionally, the ICP reported substantial growth in export-import trade, leading to custom duty collection amounting to Rs. 17.85 crore during the same period.
