A special delegation from the Indian Government’s Security Audit Team recently visited Tripura’s Muhurighat Land Customs Station and Sabroom Integrated Check Post in the southern district. The purpose of the visit was to assess various aspects related to the station’s infrastructure, passengers’ arrival and departure processes with passports, border security arrangements, the status of the Maitri Bridge (Friendship Bridge), and the Integrated Check Post, among other factors.
The delegation consisted of 12 members from New Delhi, including Vinayak Azad, Additional Secretary (IRS); Sami Ahmed Khan, Deputy Secretary of NHIDCL; Sanjib Sharma, Regional Officer (NHIDCL); Harpit Singh, Joint Director of the Ministry of DoNER, and others. Accompanying them were officials from the Land Port Authority of India, Tripura Branch Manager Debasish Nandy, former MLA Shankar Roy, and representatives from the Land and Customs department.
Led by Additional Secretary Vinayak Azad, the high-level delegation held discussions at the Belonia Customs office, gathering detailed information about the overall situation at the Muhurighat Land Customs Station on Thursday. However, locals express dissatisfaction with the lack of development at the station. Despite the visits of high-ranking officials from Tripura and New Delhi, as well as joint delegations from India and Bangladesh, the infrastructure of the Land Customs Station is alleged to have been neglected.
Sources reveal that despite the allocation of Rs 11 crore from the central government for the modernization of the Muhurighat Land Customs Station several years ago, the work has not yet been completed. The construction was halted previously due to obstruction from the Border Guard of Bangladesh, and it has not resumed since then.
However, it has been reported that Bangladesh has agreed to address this issue during the India-Bangladesh talks. Recently, after the delegation from both countries visited Tripura, the Bangladesh Commerce Minister also visited the Muhurighat Land Customs Station. During the visit, the District Magistrate of South Tripura District provided information about the station’s infrastructure.
Following their visit to Muhurighat, the Indian security audit team delegation proceeded to Sabroom. The discussions concluded at the interim camp of Maitri Setu, after which they visited various ongoing projects of the Land and Customs department.
Speaking to the media, Additional Secretary (IRS) Vinayak Azad stated that their main objective is to assess the security systems and services at the land port. He emphasized the need to strengthen the security systems at various points along the India-Bangladesh border. In response, Debashis Nandy, the General Manager of the Land Port of India, Tripura, mentioned that the Land Port of India acquired 54 acres of land in Sabroom in 2018. The construction of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) is approximately 60% complete, and it is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. Nandy added that a joint meeting with the Special Security Audit Team of the Government of India discussed the final issues related to the construction of the ICP. He also mentioned that Maitri Setu is currently open and awaiting formal inauguration.
On Thursday, the high-level delegation from Delhi also visited Srimantapur in the Sonamura sub-division of Sepahijala district before returning to Agartala.
The visit of the Security Audit Team to Tripura’s Muhurighat Land Customs Station and Sabroom Integrated Check Post reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring robust security measures and efficient services at the land port. The delegation’s interactions and assessments will help identify areas for improvement and address the
