An Integrated Check Post (ICP) being constructed in Budhnagar of Morang would be completed in the last week of December. The Dinesh chandra R. Infraction Pvt.Ltd Ahmedabad of India has been constructing the ICP for the past one-and-a-half year at the investment of India.

The company has been given the deadline of December 26 to complete the construction.

The government, in December, 2016, had allotted 169 bighas of land for construction of the ICP, being built with an estimated budget of around Rs2.1 billion through Indian government’s support.

According to construction company Engineer Abadesh Prasad Sah, the construction would be completed prior to the deadline.

“The construction works were obstructed for almost three months last year due to floods. Almost 40 percent works have been completed so far,” said Sah, adding, “The remaining works will be completed before seven months.”

Nepal and India had reached an agreement in 2005 to build ICPs at border points of Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. But so far only one ICP has been built on border point in Birgunj.

According to an initial agreement, the Indian government would build the entire infrastructure of ICPs and hand them over to the government of Nepal while Nepal would provide essential land for the construction of check posts.

After Nepal handed over 160 bigha land to India one-and-a-half year ago, the Indian side started the construction of the check post on the Nepali side.

The government acquired the land from locals by paying compensation. The agreement states that the Nepali side had agreed to provide natural resources like pebbles, sand and stones for the construction of project. The construction of ICP in Indian side has almost been completed.

The ICP is also expected to reduce traffic congestion caused by pedestrians, small vehicles and cargo vehicles.

According to Engineer Sah, around 90 percent works have been completed on the Indian side. He said the works on both sides would be completed by December.

 “After the completion of the ICP, the materials currently being imported from Jogbani check post would be made thorough broad-gauge railway,” said Sah.