Home Minister Amit Shah launches Land Port Management System
New Delhi, June 9
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a Land Port Management System to improve border and internal security, underscoring the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's promise to secure the frontier and promote cross-border trade.
Calling the creation of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) an outcome of a recommendation made in a report, Home Minister Shah said that Prime Minister Modi's vision has not only made it a first layer of security but also as an agency that makes trade easier and more secure.
"It has also acted as a bridge of connectivity between people on both sides. It has added a new dimension to the concept of how land ports can function. We have also linked how land ports can become ambassadors of our culture and heritage," he added.
An official statement said that the LPMS is a state-of-the-art digital platform designed to integrate operations across land ports into a unified system.
"It enables secure, real-time exchange of logistics and regulatory information, bringing land ports at par with digital systems operational at airports and seaports," the statement added.
This initiative underscores the Prime Minister Modi-led Union government's commitment to smart border management, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and security in cross-border trade and passenger movement through technology-driven solutions, an official statement said.
The Union Home Minister also inaugurated the newly-developed stakeholder accommodation facilities at the Dawki (Meghalaya) and Srimantapur (Tripura) Land Ports, further reinforcing infrastructure support for border security personnel and other valuable stakeholders.
The launch of LPMS marked a landmark step in India's journey towards modern, technology-enabled smart border management system, reflecting the nation's strategic focus on strengthening trade facilitation, connectivity, and national security and 'Viksit Bharat by 2047'.
"As a neutral and open platform, LPMS will facilitate seamless coordination among various stakeholders, including government agencies and private operators, thereby reducing delays and enhancing operational efficiency," it added.
"The system introduces end-to-end digital workflows for cargo and passenger processing, including slot booking, payments, tracking, and single-window clearances," it said.
Fully integrated with key national platforms such as Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange Gateway (ICEGATE), Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP), and the motor vehicle ecosystem, LPMS will enable interoperable, efficient, and transparent border management.
"The LPAI, a statutory body under the Ministry of Home Affairs' Department of Border Management, is responsible for developing and managing land ports to facilitate trade, connectivity, and regional cooperation," the statement said.
At present, the LPAI operates 15 land ports across India's international borders: Attari (Punjab) and Dera Baba Nanak (Punjab) along the India-Pakistan border; Rupaidiha (Uttar Pradesh), Raxaul (Bihar) and Jogbani (Bihar) along the India-Nepal border; Darranga (Assam) along the India-Bhutan border; Petrapole (West Bengal), Dawki (Meghalaya), Sutarkandi, Golakganj and Mankachar (Assam), Agartala, Srimantapur and Sabroom (Tripura) along the India-Bangladesh border; and Moreh (Manipur) along the India-Myanmar border.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, some much-needed digitization at our border checkpoints! As someone who travels frequently between India and Bangladesh via the Petrapole crossing, I can tell you the current system is a nightmare of paperwork and delays. This LPMS sounds promising if implemented properly. Hope the single-window clearance actually works in practice. 🤞
All this talk about digital systems is fine, but what about basic infrastructure at land ports? I was at the Dawki port last month and the roads leading to it are in terrible condition. Also, accommodation for security personnel should have been built years ago, not just inaugurated now. Good initiative but ground-level execution matters more.
Impressive steps toward modernizing border management! The 'smart border' concept is something many developing nations are adopting. India integrating its land ports with digital platforms used at airports and seaports shows strategic thinking. Let's hope this leads to smoother trade with Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. Connectivity is the key to regional prosperity.
One question - will this system actually reduce the harassment small traders face at border crossings? A digital platform is useless if border officials still demand bribes to clear goods. The single-window idea is great but needs strict monitoring. Also, what about cybersecurity? A system handling sensitive border data must be hack-proof. Just my two paise. 🇮🇳
Modernizing land ports is long overdue. India's trade potential with neighboring countries remains underutilized due to cumbersome border processes. The LPMS, if it genuinely offers end-to-end digital workflows for cargo and passengers, could transform the northeastern states into trade hubs. Well done on
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.