The dry port, which came into operation a decade ago, has not been able to start full-fledged operation due to flaws in its design. Officials say
Though there are six railway lines in the dry port, three lines are still to be brought into operation. Murari Prasad Gautam, consultant of Nepal India Regional Trade and Transport Project (NIRTTP), said work was underway to shift these three lines and build sheds and go-downs to make optimum use of the dry port. Upon completion of these works, use of railway line for import and export will increase by around 33 percent, he added.
NIRTTP, which is being implemented by Ministry of Commerce (MoC), has been working to reduce transport time and cost for trade between Nepal and India.
Establishment of food testing lab has also been included in the dry port improvement plan. Similarly, go-down in Platform No. 5 will be expanded by 150 meters on both sides.
Officials said notice for tender worth Rs 177.8 million for building sheds of go-downs has already been published.
Use of railway for import and export grew significantly for around four-months due to Indian blockade. Of late, transporters have started to prefer safer and hassle-free railway transportation over road transport which often faces hassles by local security forces. Imposition of additional road taxes between Kolkata and Birgunj is the other reason behind growing use of railway for import and export of goods.
As many as 22,538 containers of goods entered the country via the port in 2014/15, which is up by 18 percent compared to 2013/14, according to port officials. Bishnu Kant Chaudhary, chief of Himalayan Terminal, which manages the dry port, removal of Railway Line No. 4, as part of dry port improvement plan, alone will increase utilization of dry port by up to 33 percent.
Ashok Kumar Vaidya, a Birgunj-based importer, said improvement of dry port is important particularly for import of clinker and coal for cement factories.
According to officials, the dry port handled 188,574 incoming containers and 6,833 outgoing containers over the past 10 years.
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