Dry port construction to begin at Nepal-China border: report

Construction of the much-awaited Larcha dry port that would facilitate business between Nepal and China would begin on Dec. 21, officials said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has resolved all issues with the locals and will begin the construction in the stipulated time.

Nepal and China in May this year signed an agreement on the construction of the dry port at Tatopani, the main customs point between the two countries.

The government of Nepal has assigned the Inter-modal Transport Development Board to facilitate all the construction work which will be done by China's Beijing Real Estate Group Company assigned by the Chinese government.

"Under the project, a border inspection building, cargo warehouse and litigation-warehouse will be constructed to ensure that customs clearance is smooth and fast," said Naindra Prasad Upadhyay, an official at the ministry.

The project will be accomplished with an estimated cost of 86.2 million yuan (about 13.8 million U.S. dollars). It also involves the construction of a parking lot with a capacity of accommodating at least 158 big containers and 33 cars.

The Government of Nepal has already acquired 4.2 hectares of land for the construction of the dry port, while a plan for upgrading road connectivity from the Chinese side to Larcha is in the offing.

Once it comes into operation, the dry port would significantly minimize the burden of the Tatopani customs point - the only effective trade point between Nepal and China at present.