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West Bengal will remain at the centre of the Centre’s upcoming land port development programme as the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) plans to establish 11 new land ports across the country over the next three years. The focus on the state stems from the strategic importance of the Siliguri Corridor and West Bengal’s borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The announcement was made during the launch of the Land Port Management System (LPMS), a digital platform designed to streamline cargo and passenger movement across India’s land ports. The initiative is expected to strengthen border infrastructure, improve trade facilitation and support multimodal connectivity in eastern India while enhancing operational efficiency at existing and future land ports.
West Bengal will play a central role in the next phase of India’s land port development programme, with the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) identifying the state as a priority region for future investments owing to its strategic location along the borders of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The announcement was made during the launch of the Land Port Management System (LPMS) ‘Vinimay’, a new digital platform aimed at modernising operations at the country’s land ports.
LPAI Chairperson Jayant Singh said the authority currently operates 15 land ports across the country and intends to develop 11 additional facilities over the next three years. He indicated that West Bengal would continue to receive significant attention during both the current and upcoming phases of development because of the sensitivity and strategic importance of the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch connecting mainland India with the North-Eastern states.
According to Singh, the state’s geographical position requires substantial investment in border infrastructure and management systems. Sharing boundaries with three neighbouring countries, West Bengal serves as a critical gateway for international trade, passenger movement and border connectivity in eastern India. The proposed expansion programme is expected to strengthen this role while improving the efficiency of cross-border logistics.
The LPAI also outlined plans to develop border crossings into multimodal transport corridors. Singh said the authority aims to integrate key trade routes and border infrastructure so that corridors linking locations such as Raxaul, Birgunj, Jogbani and the wider Siliguri region can support more efficient cargo movement and regional trade. The approach aligns with the government’s broader objective of improving connectivity between border regions and major economic centres.
Alongside the infrastructure expansion strategy, the Union government launched the LPMS platform to digitise cargo processing and passenger management across India’s land ports. The system is designed to provide end-to-end digital workflows and facilitate coordination among customs authorities, immigration agencies, security organisations and private operators. Officials stated that the platform would help reduce delays, improve transparency and create standardised procedures across land border checkpoints.
The digital initiative forms part of the Centre’s wider push towards technology-enabled border management and smart infrastructure. Government estimates indicate that the platform can substantially reduce paperwork, cut cargo waiting times and improve processing efficiency at land ports, bringing operations closer to the standards followed at airports and seaports.
With fresh land port investments planned and digital systems being rolled out, West Bengal is expected to remain a key component of India’s border infrastructure strategy, particularly in strengthening trade and connectivity across eastern and north-eastern corridors.
Source - PTI
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