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The construction of ICPs at Attari on the Indo-Pakistan border and in Raxaul and Jogabani on the Indo-Nepal border have already started, he said while laying the foundation of the Rs 73.50-crore Agartala Integrated Check Post here to be completed within 14 months.
"The ICPs are envisaged to overcome infrastructural bottlenecks at various entry and exit points on land borders of the country.
"Trade must multiply several folds between the two countries. We must encourage more imports from Bangladesh to India," he said.
"They are expected to provide facilities for the effective and efficient discharge of sovereign functions such as security, immigration, customs, quarantine etc, while also providing support facilities for smooth cross-border movements of persons, goods and transport," he said.
Stating that India would improve relations with all its neighbours, including Bangladesh, Chidambaram said, the ICP would bring the people of the two countries together.
He pointed out that the people of Tripura and Bangladesh shared the same culture, language, history and tradition.
Chidambaram said, "We must bring more industry, more services, more schools and more health care facilities to the region."
He said: "We want to establish peace in the region so that people can work without fear, without violence. We need good governance, good roads, good water supplies and electricity."
Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar in his speech said, the opening of the ICP would open a gateway to the North-East strengthening trade and commerce with the neighbouring country.
He said, Bangladesh exports more goods than it imports, but with infrastructure building up, export and import between the state and the neighbouring country would be balanced.
Tripura Commerce and Trade Minister Jiten Chowdhury said, the state proposed seven border haats along the Indo-Bangla border and if Centre okayed them, then trade with Bangladesh would increase and local people would get more employment opportunities.
