Work on war footing to install truck scanners

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 17

With a view to ease the bilateral business between India and Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, the work is on war footing for installation of an efficient and prompt Full Body Truck Scanning System (FBTSS) and other security apparatus at the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Attari.

MP Rajya Sabha Shwait Malik on Tuesday held a review meeting with officials of the Land Ports Authority of India, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), traders and other stake holders at the site to monitor the progress of projects sanctioned by the Union Government.

Costing around Rs 40 crore, the two sets of full body 22-wheel truck scanners is going to be a reality.

The project that commenced on March 15, 2018 is expected to be completed by September 15. With the nuclear emission technology, these scanners can easily detect fissile material, narcotics and contraband.

At present, trucks moving between India and Pakistan are manually inspected with the help of sniffer dogs. Due to lapse, several incidents of contraband and weapons being smuggled into the country have been reported since the trade between the two countries began in 2008.

“A truck will be parked in the designated tunnel and the nuclear radiation technology will monitor the loaded truck within a span of three minutes. In the absence of scanners, trucks can be seen in long queues waiting for clearance. Also, the manual checking and dog sniffing can’t be considered reliable, keeping in view the instances of forbidden material sneaking in,” said Malik, who had raised the issue in the Parliament and earnestly taken up the matter with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiran Rijiju.

According to the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010, it is mandatory to install scanners at the posts through which international trade is carried out.

Similarly, a covered shed of size 65X16 meters (1040 square metres) and a concrete open yard measuring 13,000 square meters worth Rs 4.5 crore, too, is under progress. It will be completed within six months, officials said.

Now, the ICP is under surveillance of 108 high definition CCTVs cameras with night vision facility worth Rs 4.75 crore, along with 16 vigil towers worth Rs 54 lakhs have been set up to strengthen the security cover.

Besides, residential accommodation for BSF jawans within the ICP premises has been sanctioned by the Centre. As per plan, 320 flats for three companies of the BSF would be constructed.

Similarly, for the convenience of labour, shed for rest and relaxation of coolies and porters, toilet blocks, one each at Jatha shed (India and Pakistan side) and 100 metres wide road near passenger terminal and cargo terminal is also under process.