India-Bhutan Relations Strengthened at Darranga ICP

At Darranga, Assam, the first Integrated Check Post (ICP) was established along the India-Bhutan border. This occasion was a significant turning point in India-Bhutan relations. Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan and Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya of Assam attended the ceremony.

l Integrated Check Post (ICP) Overview

• ICPs facilitate border control procedures in countries’ import-and-export activities.
• They also promote transport as well as commerce within different countries.
• ICPs’ goal is to shorten transit time for the flow of goods and people through frontiers.

Darranga ICP Features

• reports an area of 14.5 acres and lies 700 meters from the international border between India and Bhutan.
• They include an office block, parking compound, entrance and exit lanes, access weighbridge, warehousing, and the living quarters of officials.
• WSI has set up modern instrumentalities for quality assurance as well as safety standards.

Strategic Location

• It links easily to National Highway 27 for simple transportation of goods.
• A well-developed customs service at Samdrup-Jongkhar facilitates the clearing of products imported into the Kingdom.
• For any facility, there are always large improvements under ongoing infrastructure improvements to help the facility enhance service delivery.
• New developments of the highway from Samdrup-Jongkhar to Tashigang are also under construction.

Significance of the ICP

• Here we can mention that the Darranga ICP helps to establish cooperation in trade and economic spheres of activity.
• It gives a systematized outlook to the customs and immigration procedures.

Future Prospects

• Other improvements in infrastructure and services may help increase trade volumes as well as the economy.