Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Full-body truck scanner to be operationa­l at Attari checkpost in Jan

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to inspect the checkpost this month to install the scanner, say officials

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“99.9% constructi­on work for making two buildings—one for installing the truck scanner and another for its administra­tion— has been completed. Even, FBTS has been imported by the Union ministry of external affairs from the United States of America. We expect that the FBTS will be operationa­l in January,” said LPAI’S Attari manager Sukhdev Singh.

As per the LPAI officials, after the installati­on of the truck scanner, smuggling of concealed heroin, other drugs and weapons through the ICP from Pakistan side will be curbed. At present, manual checking of vehicles is done, which takes a lot of time.

Meanwhile, two truck scanners are operationa­l at Wagah border in Pakistan.

The central government had sanctioned five FBTS, each for Attari-wagah (in Punjab), Poonch-chakkandab­ad and Uri-salamabad (in Jammu & Kashmir) on the India-pakistan border, Petrapole (in Kolkata) at India-bangladesh border and Raxaul (in Bihar) on the Indianepal border.

“The foundation stones in Jammu and Kashmir, Kolkata and Bihar are yet to be laid for the installati­on of the scanners. However, the Attari border will be the first to have a truck scanner in India,” said Sukhdev.

He said a team of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) from Mumbai will be visiting the ICP this month to inspect the constructi­on site, where the scanner will be installed.

“The scanner emits high radiation and the AERB will also check the suitabilit­y of the constructe­d site for ensuring safety in and around the area,” the LPAI manager added.

After the installati­on of the truck scanner, every single truck will be checked for concealmen­t of narcotics, weapons or ammunition, besides easily verifying the content of the import or export goods, that too in couple of minutes.

 ?? SAMEER SEHGAL/HT ?? Labourers working at the Integrated Check Post site at the Attari border, where the full-body truck scanner will be installed, on Tuesday.
SAMEER SEHGAL/HT Labourers working at the Integrated Check Post site at the Attari border, where the full-body truck scanner will be installed, on Tuesday.

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