Road opened for construction of Dodhara Chandani dry port

The road has been opened for the construction of the Dodhara Chandani Dry Port in Kanchanpur’s Dodhara Chandani Municipality. On September 18, the Government of Nepal approved the use of 42.36 hectares of Mayapuri Community Forest land, located in Shuklaphanta National Park, for the project, and construction has officially begun.

Although plans for the dry port were discussed for over a decade, actual progress only started following the recent decision by the Council of Ministers. Anish KC, Engineer at the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, confirmed the approval to use the national park land, stating, “We will provide compensation to the park, after which the park office will authorize tree cutting.”

The dry port is being developed with financial and technical support from the Government of India, which has already initiated the tender process. Construction is expected to be completed within three years, with an estimated cost of Rs 5.75bn.

According to Gokarna Awasthi, Director General of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the dry port will open up new opportunities for Sudurpaschim. “If the border is opened, it will facilitate movement between Nepal and India, eliminating the need for long detours,” he said. He emphasized the potential for industrial and agricultural development, particularly with easy access to markets in India’s Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Awasthi also stressed the importance of infrastructure development in Sudurpaschim, calling for improvements in air and road connectivity to support trade. He highlighted the potential for Indian industries to establish branches in Nepal and export goods from the region.

Local business leaders are optimistic about the dry port’s impact. Dinesh Malla, Senior Vice President of the Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “The port will reduce both the cost and time of trade in Sudurpaschim, given its proximity to Indian industrial hubs.”

The Intermodal Transport Development Committee outlined plans to construct two warehouse buildings, a customs check facility, a quarantine building, an immigration office, and a security building. The government first proposed the dry port in 2007, but work stalled until now.

Business leaders believe that the port’s construction will unlock significant economic potential for the region.

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