Trade through Tatopani customs to close for three weeks

 Nepal China trade has again hit a road block as the northern neighbour has started maintenance of the Friendship Bridge at the Tatopani border point.

“Trade through the Tatopani border point has been halted for next 20 days for maintenance of the Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal and China,” confirmed the Tatopani Dry Port Customs Office. “China has is repairing the bridge and it will take almost three weeks to complete repairing the bridge.”

China has begun repairing the Friendship Bridge as it was partially damaged by floods in Bhotekoshi last monsoon. “The flood had slightly damaged the pillars of the bridge,” the customs informed, adding that China has decided to take 20 days at most to repair the bridge. The trade through the Tatopani Customs can be started only from mid-February. No trade will take place during the maintenance period as there is no import from China.

The Friendship Bridge was damaged in the devastating earthquake of 2015 also. Though, the bridge was reconstructed and came into operation in 2016, the trade through the Tatopani Cyustoms was disrupted several times due to several reasons. The checkpoint, which remained completely closed for four years after the devastating earthquake, was re-opened on May 29, 2019 but again to close due to Covid-19.

According to the Customs office, the checkpost – which has been collecting an average of Rs 5 billion in revenue from import and export of some Rs 20 billion to Rs 25 billion annually – kept closing and reopening for eight times due to the Covid-19 pandemic, floods and landslides. It was in continuous operation for three months after the checkpoint was reopened last September.