Kathmandu, December 15

Nepal and India today agreed to complete outstanding works on the Integrated Check Post in Birgunj within three months and bring it into operation, quickly.

An Nepal-India senior officials’ meeting on ICP, that concluded in Kathmandu also decided to complete such ICPs in Biratnagar by December 2018.

“Both sides reviewed the current status of the ICPs and decided to complete the remaining work at Brigunj by March 2017,” The Foreign ministry’s Joint-secretary and Chief of South Asia Division Bhrigu Dhungana said.

According to him, 80 per cent work has already been completed in Birjung and the required land area has been handed over to the concerned contractor for ICP construction in Biratnagar.

Urban Development Secretary Dipendra Nath Sharma had led the Nepali delegation while the Indian side was led by Sanjeevanee Kutty, secretary of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Nepal and India have planned to build ICPs on their respective sides at ports of entry in Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.

In the first phase, ICPs were to be built in Birgunj of Nepal and Raxaul of India, and Biratnagar of Nepal and Jogbani of India.

The Indian side has already completed the ICPs in Raxual and Jogbani and the ICP of Raxual was already come into operation, while it’s being operationalise at Jogbani soon.

Meanwhile, the Nepali side has urged the Indian side to operationalise ICPs at both sides of border — Raxual and Birgunj simultaneously.

“We have requested the Indian side to bring into operation both the ICPs simultaneously, Information Office at the Ministry of Urban Development Suman Salike told The Himalayan Times. “They have noted it.”

The Indian side has reportedly said that they have so far operationalised the ICP for only importing and exporting perishable goods such as vegetables and were of the view that this operation has only put pressure on the Nepali side to complete the remaining work at the ICP in Birgunj soon.

In the second phase, ICPs will be constructed in Bhairahawa of Nepal and Nautanwa of India; and Nepalgunj of Nepal and Rupadiya of India.

Salike said that on the ICPs at Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj, the Indian side said that they would submit the Detailed Engineering Report by the end of February next year.