KATHMANDU: Five companies have registered letters of intent for the operation of Integrated Security Checkpoint (ICP) at Birgunj. On Monday, the last day to register letters of intent, 5 companies have registered their letters of intent at the Intermodal Transport Development Committee central office in Kathmandu. These include Pristine/Mega Logistics, Trans Nepal, Highway Road Line, Kailash Terminal/Vindhyavasini and SS Terminal.
Ashish Gajurel, executive director of the committee, said that only 5 letters of intent were registered while different companies took eight forms. He said that the evaluation committee formed by the committee has already started the necessary evaluation. “Regarding the registered letter of intent, the evaluation committee has already started the necessary work,” he said, “soon we will announce the results in the presence of all the bidders.”
This ICP has come into operation as the first ICP of the country since 28th of March 2007. Until now, the Intermodal Transport Development Committee itself has been conducting this ICP. Now the private sector is going to be allowed to operate under contract. The Government of India had built an integrated security check post with a similar structure in Nepal and across the border in Indian territory.
In an effort to make international travel hassle-free by bringing institutions like customs, immigration, quarantine, border security under one roof, India has built ICP in Nepal and its own land as well. As more than half of Nepal’s international import and export business is done through Birgunj ICP, the infrastructure and facilities here are of great importance in the country’s import-export trade.