The Union Home Ministry has designated eight landports in Tripura as immigration posts for international passengers, alongside 37 airports, 34 seaports, and six railway stations across India. This move boosts cross-border trade, tourism, and connectivity, particularly enhancing Tripura’s role as a vital gateway to Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.
In a significant development for cross-border movement and regional connectivity, the Union Home Ministry has notified eight landports in Tripura as designated immigration posts for the entry and exit of international passengers. The official announcement was made through a gazette notification under The Immigration and Foreigners Order, 2025, which came into effect on September 1.
The newly notified landports in Tripura are located at Agartala, Dhalaighat, Khowai, Muhurighat, Ragna, Kailashahar, Sabroom, and Srimantapur. With this decision, these land entry points will now serve as legal and recognized gateways for international passengers, strengthening trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties across borders.
Expanding Immigration Infrastructure Across India
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared a total of 37 airports, 34 seaports and river ports, and 37 land crossing points across India as designated immigration posts. Additionally, six railway stations along international borders have also been authorized for immigration purposes.
This expansion aims to streamline immigration procedures, ease passenger movement, and improve border management across India’s extensive international boundaries.
Tripura’s Strategic Role in Connectivity
Tripura, a state sharing an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh, is strategically located in Northeast India. Declaring eight of its landports as immigration posts highlights the state’s importance in cross-border trade, tourism, and connectivity with Bangladesh and beyond.
Among the notified landports, Agartala Integrated Check Post (ICP) has already been serving as a crucial point for trade and passenger movement. The inclusion of Sabroom landport, connected to Bangladesh’s Chattogram port, is particularly significant as it is expected to enhance India’s access to seaports, reducing distance and time for cargo movement.
These developments align with India’s “Act East Policy”, which seeks to deepen economic and cultural ties with Southeast Asia through the Northeast region.
Other Landports Across India
Besides Tripura, several other landports across different states have been declared immigration posts. In Punjab, Attari Road and Dera Baba Nanak have been included, while Uttarakhand has Banbasa. West Bengal, which shares multiple borders with Bangladesh, has several designated landports including Changrabandha, Ghojadanga, Hili, Jaigoan, Mahadipur, Phulbari, Raniganj, and Gede.
In the Northeast, besides Tripura, landports in Assam (Karimganj, Mankachar, Sutarkandi, Dalu, Dawki, Darranga), Meghalaya (Dalu, Dawki), and Mizoram (Kawrpuichhuah, Zorinpui, Zokhawthar) have also been notified. Manipur’s Moreh landport has long been considered a key transit route to Myanmar and Southeast Asia.
Airports and Seaports Notified
The notification also expanded immigration facilities across major airports and seaports.
Among airports, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad feature prominently. Smaller but strategically important airports like Bagdogra, Gaya, Kannur, Madurai, Port Blair, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam have also been included.
On the maritime front, 34 seaports and river ports are now designated immigration posts. These include Mumbai, Mormugao, Kandla, Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Paradeep, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, and emerging hubs like Vizhinjam, Vallarpadam, Dhamra, and Krishnapatnam. Ports in the Northeast such as Karimganj, Silghat, Pandu, and Dhubri in Assam have also been recognized.
Railway Immigration Posts
In a move to facilitate passenger travel across land borders, the MHA also named six railway stations as immigration posts. These include Munabao (Rajasthan) on the India-Pakistan border, Attari (Punjab), and four in West Bengal—Gede, Petrapole/Chitpur, Haridaspur, and New Jalpaiguri Railway Station.
Boost to Regional Trade and Tourism
Experts believe that the designation of new immigration posts will boost regional trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. For Tripura, the notification holds special significance as it can position the state as a gateway for India’s connectivity with Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.
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With improved immigration infrastructure, the movement of goods and passengers is expected to become smoother, while also contributing to economic growth and job creation in border states.
The notification reflects the central government’s commitment to strengthening border management, while also enhancing legal and secure pathways for cross-border movement.
