Govt to develop border posts

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's philosophy of economic prosperity being the best security apparatus has been taken to heart by the home ministry.

The ministry's border management department has decided to do its bit to promote trade between India and its neighbours.

Under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), the home ministry has identified at least 15 out of the 70 border trading posts that India shares with its neighbours for infrastructural development.

Out of these 15, five have been selected in the first phase by RITES, project reports for which are ready.

These include Nathula Pass between India and China, Morey on the Indo- Myanmar border, Petrapole on the Indo-Bangladesh border, Raxaul on the Indo-Nepal border and Wagah on the India-Pakistan border.

In the next phase, three posts on the India-Nepal border will be taken for development along with two others on the India-Bangladesh border.

"The plans for these trading posts including building a land port, immigration check points, parking facilities, hotels and good roads," said an official from the home ministry. The cost worked out for each trading post is a whopping Rs 70-80 crore.

"This programme stems from the belief that when nations have a stake in each other's prosperity, it leads to more security," said the official.

The home ministry says that it has also taken note of the suggestion made by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang to reopen old Silk Route trading posts to encourage trade with China.

The home ministry had earlier commissioned a survey of old trading posts and the number came to around 70. Of these many were defunct, others which saw brisk trade were then short listed for the programme.

The newly reopened Nathula Pass has seen only Rs 20 lakh worth of business till now, according to home ministry figures.