KIRTIPUR, March 26: The Chobhar Dry Port in Kathmandu has commenced its services after two years of completion.
Currently, some 200 cars are waiting for customs clearance.
Entrepreneur Bibhor Kumar Agrawal has been visiting the dry port regularly for some days to proceed with the customs for cosmetic goods imported from Italy.
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The customs clearance for new vehicles has begun at the Chobhar Dry Port after the agreement forged with NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal. It has resulted in the arrival of businesspersons seeking services here.
With no direct access to sea, Nepal has 14 dry ports, among which, Chobhar Dry Port is the latest and modern facility. Most of the dry ports are constructed at borders with China and India.
The latest one is now close to the main market of the country.
The businesspersons are provided space in the dry port to store their imports. They can use the space as internal depots.
Godown, rack, and equipment to load and unload consignments are provided at the dry port. Arrangement of CCTV cameras, security persons, container management and bank service are some other features to equip the customs clearance.
The dry port is spacious for as many as 500 containers.
Executive Director at the Chobar Dry Port, Ashish Gajurel, said if it is to be operated in a full scale, an environment should be created to bring the imports directly to this facility. Similarly, it can be used for final checks to exports as well. "It is however not possible at present because the imports are checked initially at border customs, including the Birgunj checkpoint. Then they arrive here. It is therefore a hassle to ferry any consignment at this dry port and move to other places," he explained.
Gajurel said that once the Tarai-Madhesh expressway comes into operation, the exporters and importers would be free of the present hassles.
