Attari depot to boost trade: Malik

AMRITSAR: To promote international trade through the Attari border, the authorities concerned have proposed establishment of an Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Attari, besides the extension of railway trade corridor to Amritsar, here on Sunday.

Rajya Sabha MP (member parliament) Shwait Malik, during an industrial conclave hosted by the Integrated Check Post (ICP) Chamber of Commerce at a hotel here. In a first, all stakeholders were seen on one platform during the conclave organised to find ways to cut down timelines in the installation of ICD and promotion of border trade at Attari.

Malik said that he has started working on construction of an Inland Container Depot in Amritsar and extension of the railway trade corridor till the Holy City. “Once it is completed, the depot and the extended corridor will trigger revival of the industries in and around Amritsar,” he said.

He added that a team of experts was sent by the commerce department of the Union government to check the viability of the project last week and the work is underway.

While thanking MP Malik for his efforts in getting the ICP at Attari modernised, chamber president Mohit Khanna said, “Direct export and import of goods from the western ports of Kandla and Jamnagar will become possible.”

Balbir Bajaj, one of the leading exporters here, said that the ICP Chamber of Commerce is focusing on ICP and ICD trade facilitation by the Union government with the help of the MP.