West Bengal to Remain in Focus for New Land Ports Development amid Siliguri Corridor Security Concerns

Speaking at the launch of the Land Port Management System (LPMS) “Vinimay” on Tuesday,(9 June) Singh said the state’s unique geographical position, sharing borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, makes it a critical gateway for regional trade and national security. “West Bengal will be our focus because of its important geographical location. It has Bangladesh on one side, Bhutan on another and Nepal on the other. We also have to secure the Siliguri Corridor. Considering its sensitivity, significant investments in border infrastructure and management are required,” Singh said.

The LPAI currently operates 15 land ports across India and plans to develop 11 additional land ports over the next three years as part of a broader effort to modernise cross-border trade infrastructure.

Singh said the authority aims to transform key border crossings into multimodal economic corridors. The development plan includes strengthening connectivity through major gateways such as Raxaul, Birganj, Jogbani and the Siliguri Corridor, enhancing trade flows with neighbouring countries. Highlighting the economic potential of border infrastructure, Singh noted that the LPAI has acquired around 20-22 acres of land at Petrapole and Ghojadanga land ports in West Bengal, where textile and industrial clusters could be established to support regional economic growth.

The launch of the LPMS Vinimay marks a major step in the digital transformation of India’s land port operations. The platform is designed to streamline cargo and passenger movement through end-to-end digital workflows, including slot booking, payments, cargo tracking and single-window clearances.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the system is fully integrated with major national logistics and trade platforms, including ICEGATE, ULIP, and the motor vehicle ecosystem, enabling seamless exchange of logistics and regulatory information among stakeholders.

The ministry said the platform will facilitate real-time coordination between government agencies and private operators, reducing delays and improving transparency, efficiency and security at border crossings.   “LPMS Vinimay is a state-of-the-art digital platform designed to integrate operations across land ports into a unified system. It reflects the government’s commitment to smart border management, trade facilitation, connectivity and national security,” the ministry said.   Officials believe the new system will bring India’s land ports on par with the advanced digital ecosystems currently operational at airports and seaports, while supporting the country’s broader vision of building a technologically enabled and globally competitive logistics network under the Viksit Bharat initiative.