Of the total estimated cost of Rs 300 million for the construction of dry port, the northern neighbor has agreed to provide assistance worth Rs 250 million. [break]
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"Chinese team will start construction of the dry port this ye”r," said Sharad Bikram Rana, director of Inter Model Transport Development Committee, which falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies. According to Rana, the dry port will be spread over 468 ropanies of land and will have warehouse, checking yard, parking lot and residential complexes. “
"We can check 40 containers at a time in the dry port where around 200 containers can be parked. With the completion of the dry port, we can provide all facilities there which are available in the sea p”rts," said Rana.
Tatopani customs office is managing about 60 containers at a time in the parking yard. The dry port is to be built at Pulpingkatti-7, Dumingthang, Shidhuplalchowk, some eight kilometer south of Miteri Bride in Tatopani.
Nepal government already acquired 225 ropanies of land last year paying around Rs 60 million in compensation to landowners and the remaining land is under the ownership of the Tatopani customs office.
Nepal and China had signed an agreement to build a dry port in Tatopani three years ago. Nepali traders have long been pressing for a speedy construction of the dry port, which is vital to promote bilateral trade through Tatopani - the largest customs point along the northern border.
The government has been collecting annual revenue of Rs 2.5 billion from the Tatopani customs which is one of the ten largest customs points in the country.
Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, president of Sindhupalchowk Chambers of Commerce and Industry, once the dry port comes into operation bilateral trade between Nepal and China will grow significantly.
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