Locale for fifth dry port identified

A joint team, comprising Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB) and experts from China, has zeroed in on a spot at Larcha near Tatopani in Sindhupalchowk district for the proposed Tatopani Inland Clearance Depot (ICD), the fifth dry port of its kind in the country.
"The Chinese team has prepared a preliminary master plan as per the ICD's requirements. Once the necessary formalities are taken care of, China will submit the plan to Nepal. If all goes as per the plan, then China is keen to start the dry port construction at Tatopani within this year," said Sarad Bikram Rana, executive director, NITDB.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jicchi, who recently visited Nepal, had stressed the growing need to promote sustainable trade and enhance mutually beneficial trading relationship. Both the neighbours also discussed the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and dry ports in the border areas to boost bilateral trade. China has also evinced interest in building another dry port at Kerung in Rasuwa district.
Incidentally, both Tatopani and Kerung are about 500-km from Sigatse, which Beijing plans to make connected by a rail network within this year.
NITDB, technically aided by the UNDP/ENTReC, had conducted the feasibility study for the dry port at Tatopani. Nepal, a land-locked nation, is in dire need of dry ports. But the latter can only flourish if there are adequate facilities for multi-model transport (where container seals can remain unbroken despite being moved from one place to another irrespective of the inhospitable terrain).
The construction work at the Mechi ICD — the fourth dry port — is on in full swing. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is funding the project.
The dry port at Kakarbhitta on the eastern border between Nepal and India aims to boost trade not only with New Delhi but also Dhaka.
"The Mechi Dry Port is likely to be completed within this year. We will then invite tender for its operation," said a NITDB official.
At present, three dry ports are in operation — at Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa — that are being leased out for 10 years to Nepal-India joint ventures.
The government has also launched Nepal Multi-model Transit and Trade Facilitation Project (NMTTEP) at an estimated cost of $28.5 million. The World Bank has pledged $23.5 million for the initiative.
Meanwhile, the SEZ project in Panchkhal — it promises to house over a dozen industries of various types — has stared gathering momentum. Chinese technical assistance is integral to Panchkhal's success.