Dry port construction gains momentum in Dodhara Chandani

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DODHARA CHANDANI (KANCHANPUR), JUNE 2: The construction of a dry port in Dodhara Chandani has gathered pace. Ashish Gajurel, Executive Director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, stated that the project is progressing at the desired speed.

According to Gajurel, around 1,000 trees have already been felled in the Mayapuri Community Forest located in Dodhara Chandani Municipality-1. "Preparations are underway to complete the tree-felling process within this month so that construction can begin. India has already selected a construction company for the task," he said.

It may be noted that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the governments of Nepal and India on 1 June 2023 for the construction of the dry port, with financial and technical assistance from the Indian government. India has called for bids and selected a company to carry out the project, which is estimated at INR 2.543 billion.

Construction will commence once the Nepali side vacates the port site and officially hands it over to India. The Intermodal Transport Development Committee has planned to develop infrastructure across 42.36 hectares, which will include two warehouse buildings, a customs inspection facility, a quarantine building, an immigration building, and a security building.

Nepal has already completed the construction of a six-lane access road leading to the port and a four-lane concrete bridge over the Mahakali River. Meanwhile, India is building its access road to the site.

The completion of the dry port and the activation of the western border point are expected to unlock new avenues for the economic development of the Sudurpaschim (Far-West) region.

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