The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) which functions under the Union home ministry has taken the task of building an integrated check post (ICP) in Fulbari, a land port located on the southern outskirts of Siliguri in Jalpaiguri district.

On Wednesday, a seven-member team from the LPAI led by Col. Raman Kumar Sharma, the director (projects), visited the land port and checked out the 25-acre plot that the state government has earmarked for the construction of the integrated check post.

Across India, the LPAI has been developing infrastructure at land ports for the movement of passengers and goods through international borders.

“It will be an integrated check post which will have a passenger terminal for people who want to cross the India-Bangladesh border through this route. There will be waiting rooms, ATM counters, immigration check post, foreign exchange counters and a food court for the passengers,” said a source in Jalpaiguri district administration.

Also, the facility will have offices of the BSF, Customs, immigration and other departments concerned which work at the international border and control passenger and goods movement.

Added to these, there will be parking spaces, a truck terminal, a bus stand and eateries, said sources.

Jayanta Roy, the BJP MP of Jalpaiguri, said around two years back, the LPAI had sought land from the state government to develop the infrastructure in Fulbari.

“Finally, the state has provided some land. Today’s visit was important and we believe in due course, the LPAI will take the necessary initiatives. The proposed ICP will increase the footfall of Bangladeshi residents as it is barely 5km away from Siliguri. From Siliguri, they can move to different locations of the state and the country,” he said.

As of now, the nearest entry and exit point for travellers from Siliguri is Changrabandha of Cooch Behar, which is around 80km away. The other points in north Bengal are Hili in South Dinajpur and Mahadipur in Malda.

Rana Biswas, the additional district magistrate (land acquisition) of Jalpaiguri, said senior officers accompanied the team during their visit to the border.

“Later, we also had a meeting where certain issues were discussed. We will soon convene another meeting where departments and central agencies concerned will be called to expedite the infrastructural development,” he said.

Those associated with the tourism sector have also welcomed the development. The footfall of Bangladeshi nationals increased after the introduction of Mitali Express which runs between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka Cantonment, they said.

“Now if the movement of passengers commences via Fulbari, it will give a boost to the tourism sector of this region,” said Santanu Choudhury, who runs a travel house in the city.