AGARTALA, March 12 - The Centre has sanctioned Rs 365 crore for setting up an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sabroom in South Tripura to tap the potential for boosting bilateral trade with Bangladesh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah cleared the proposal for setting up the ICP under a �single scheme� following a request made by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.
During his last visit to Delhi, Deb met the Union Home Minister with a plea to set up an ICP at Sabroom, which could become a gateway to Southeast Asian nations for the North East.
�Three days ago I met the Union Home Minister and briefed him on the potential of Sabroom, and he sanctioned the project for the benefit of the State,� the Chief Minister said after inaugurating the Tribal Cultural Utsav here last night.
Heaping praise on the Narendra Modi Government, the Chief Minister said the Central Government has provided Rs 2,500 crore in addition to the budgetary support, something that never happened during the 25-year rule of the Left parties.
Setting up of an ICP has become necessary as the bridge over the Feni river will connect the two sides of the international border.
�Once the bridge becomes operational, it will give easier access to the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh. This will increase trade manifold. Land Port Station (LCS) will be insufficient to handle bilateral trade once connectivity is established between Sabroom and Chittagong Port,� said a senior Industries Department official here today.
Earlier, the Union Ministry of Commerce had sanctioned a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Sabroom to boost trade and industry. The State, which shares 856-km border with Bangladesh, currently has one ICP at Akhaura, not far from the State capital.
