Assam to establish new land customs station at Samrang on Indo-Bhutan border

Guwahati: A new Land Customs Station (LCS) is being established at Samrang along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam's Udalguri district.

Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota and Bhutan’s Consul General in Guwahati, Jigme Thinlye Namgyal, met on Sunday to discuss the operationalisation of the LCS.

The officials focused on interim arrangements to enable the station’s functioning.

Earlier this year, a committee of representatives from all stakeholder agencies conducted a joint site visit to assess ways to develop Samrang into a functional border point, to boost import and export activities.

Currently, Assam has two operational LCSs along the Bhutan border, Darranga in Baksa and Hatisar in Chirang.

In 2023-24, trade through Darranga reached Rs 1,096 crore, with Rs 736.42 crore in exports and Rs 359.61 crore in imports.

Trade via Hatisar amounted to Rs 811 crore.