CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal today approved setting up of 11 major and 25 minor Computerised Integrated Check Posts to ensure hassle free movement of goods traffic besides bringing total transparency in revenue collection.

            In a path breaking move the Deputy Chief Minister approving the conceptual plan put up by Excise and Taxation Department asked them to construct and opertionalise all the check posts on January 1, 2014. The 11 Check Posts to be computerised under integrated check post plan included Shambu-I, Shambu-E, Lalru, Banur, Khanauri,  Balongi, Dehni, Madhopur, Kaller Khera, Doomanwali, and Zirakpur. The Minor check posts included Ram Nagar, Devigarh, Moonak, Ghanouli, Lakhanpur, Mullanpur, Nangal, Harsar-Mansar, Chak Sadhu,  Dalhousie Road, Saikulian, Sito Ghunoo, Rajpura, Talwandi Sabo, Killianwali, Sardulewala, Boha, Chullar Kalan, Mohali, Talwara, Amritsar Station, Ludhiana Station, Sarna and Khanaouri Kaithal Road.

            Reiterating the commitment of Punjab Government to provide World Class Road Connectivity, Mr. Badal said that Punjab Government has already approved Rs. 12160 crore plan to link all cities with 4/6 lane roads and to check the traffic bottlenecks caused due to manual checking of goods vehicle it has been decided to setup automated computerised integrated check posts having world class infrastructures. The Check Posts would have separate parking, loading unloading area besides restrooms and refreshing rooms for drivers. The Facilities to be ensured in each check post would include heavy vehicle scanners, vehicle weighing platforms, high resolution CCTV Cameras besides number plate capturing equipments. There would be six to seven bays on check posts for smooth and hassle free disposal of goods traffic. The passenger traffic would not be halted on these check posts and there would be separate lanes for private tourist buses and taxis.

            Issuing instructions to integrate all these check posts with the main server of Excise and Taxation Department, Mr. Badal said that purpose of whole exercise was to bring total transparency in the revenue collection besides facilitating the drivers of goods vehicles, who had to wait hours to get their vehicles cleared on the check posts. He said that all these check posts would have air conditioned administrative offices and their total operation could be monitored from the Excise and Taxation Headquarter on wide area network.

            Prominent amongst those present in the meeting Mr. D.P. Reddy, Principal Secretary Excise and Taxation, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, MD PIDB, Mr. Anurag Verma, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr. Ajay Mahajan, Special Secretary to Deputy CM and representatives of various participating agencies.