Plan okayed for customs terminal on Kartarpur corridor at Dera Baba Sahib

In order to facilitate immigration and customs clearance, the Indian Government had earlier proposed building such a passenger terminal facility to allow passage of 5000 Sikhs and others a day. The Land Ports Authority of India has been assigned the job. The complex will come up in an area of 50 acres.

Indian and Pakistani delegations had met last week at Attari to discuss speedy implementation of the corridor project. The next meeting will be held at Wagah on April 2. While Pakistan wants a paid permit system, India has reminded them of Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan's earlier statement of visa-free travel.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the corridor last November and Imran Khan had done so later on the other side of the border.

Earlier, the Indian Government had approved construction of the corridor between Dera Baba Sabib in Gurdaspur in Punjab (Indian) and Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara across the International Border about 7 km away inside Pakistan, and Pakistan Government too had okayed the plan. Subsequently, India and Pakistan are holding talks to expedite the construction and complete the corridor by the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in November.