Proposed dry port will be constructed as per tri-national strategy: PM Dahal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today said the proposed dry port in Dodhara-Chandani Municipality in Kanchanpur district would be constructed as per the tri-national strategy. The project is expected to contribute to the economic development of the Sudurpaschim Province in particular and the entire nation, he said at an event organised here.

PM Dahal currently is on his visit to Sudurpaschim Province as part of his inspection of projects here. “The dry port will be constructed as per the tri-national strategy. We are on the lookout to take advantage of development activities of India and China. The project will help advance the strategy,” he said. The project, which is in the government’s high priorities, is expected to benefit all Nepal, India and China alike, according to him. He also offered his hope that the project would be completed in time as its Environmental Impact Assessment has been over. “I am very happy that the Government of India in the memorandum of understanding struck between Nepal and India has promised to complete the project in three years.

This will contribute to the development of Sudurpaschim and the entire country.” On the occasion, the PM also inspected a cemented bridge along the four-lane road along the Mahakali River. For the project, the government has allocated Rs 1 billion for the current fiscal year, 2022/23. Cutting down trees is underway. Under the project spanning around 280 bigha of land (one bigha equivalent to 72,900 sq feet) at the Mayapuri and Gaurishankar community forests, a customs office, a bank, godowns, buildings for security agencies, administrative buildings, a railway platform, parking lots, a livestock and food examination centre laboratory, and passenger terminals would be constructed. Similarly, many structures and buildings offering other services would be built.

The project has been shifted to the Mayapuri and Gaurishankar community forests from Kanjabhoj after local people protested. The Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board has sought suggestion to use buffer forest areas of the Shuklaphanta National Park spanning at the Municipality-1, 2 and 3 for the project.