Government team starts study on dry port in Far West

Kathmandu January 13- The government has begun a study for the development of dry port at Chandani Dodhara in Kanchanpur district, the far-western region of Nepal. 

A team led by Laxman Bahadur Basnet, executive director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, comprising technicians and management personnel has started conducting a field study of the proposed dry port. The proposed project was approved through the minister-level decision. 

The team will identify the areas for the dry port and conduct an initial survey and design of the proposed facilities. On Monday, the technical team and the government officials from Finance, Physical Infrastructure ministries and Department of Customs and Roads held an interaction with the locals, political leaders and officials of the Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 
According to Basnet, the government’s move to develop a dry port in the Far West is a part of its strategy to balance the proposed provinces in the new Constitution.  

 
Currently, Inland Clearance Depot or dry ports are in operation in Birgunj and Kakarvitta, while the government has been planning to construct such facilities in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Tatopani and Rasuwa as well. 

Likewise, study will also be conducted on connecting the South Asian highway and railway access with the proposed dry port, he said. The government will hold negotiation with donors willing to fund on the project and appoint consultants as soon as possible, Basnet said, adding that two separate team-technical and management-will prepare their separate reports on the project’s financial and technical viability.