Dhodara-Chandani Dry Port Construction Progresses

Dhangadhi. Kanchanpur's Dodhara-Chandani Municipality is known as 'Nepal across Mahakali'. At one time, the connection of the residents here with the Nepali land across Mahakali was rare. It was not easy to cross the Mahakali river. To come to Mahendranagar for government work, they had to either take a boat or use the Indian route. The residents of Dodhara-Chandani felt neglected and looked down upon by the state for years. Their daily life was more connected with neighboring India than with Nepal. Now the time has changed. The old identity of Dodhara-Chandani is changing, according to the locals there. This area is now preparing to become the main gateway to prosperity in Sudurpashchim. The main reason for this is the national pride project 'Dodhara-Chandani Dry Port' being built here. Although the previous governments said they would complete this project during their tenure, they could not. Now that a new government has come, it remains to be seen how the new government will view this project, according to the locals. If the new government prioritizes this project and works on it, it can lay the foundation for the prosperity of Dodhara Chandani, say the locals of that area. Ram Bhatta, a local of Dodhara-Chandani-1, said that until a few years ago, the residents here felt as if they were not Nepali even though they were in Nepal. According to him, leaders used to come during elections, and at other times they would ignore it, calling it a border area. He said that the situation has changed in the last decade. 'Now everyone listens to us. Former prime ministers, ministers, and big leaders have come to our village. After the suspension bridge over Mahakali and later the motorable concrete bridge were built, we became connected with the main land of Nepal,' he said, 'Now it will be even better after the dry port is built.' Vishnu Joshi, who has been living here for the past 32 years, has an even more difficult experience. He still relies on the Indian market for food grains and fertilizers. It is the compulsion of the residents here to carry goods on their backs. 'We still bring many things from India on our backs. After the dry port is built, big trucks and trains will bring goods here. Trade will increase and our children will get employment here,' he said. Although the discussion about building the dry port has started for about a decade and a half, its construction has gained momentum in the last one year. According to the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, the physical progress of the port has reached 12.85 percent so far. According to Anil KC, an engineer of the committee, work is going on at a fast pace at the construction site. 'Customs building, terminal, armed police housing, and other administrative structures are under construction. Work is progressing with the goal of completing construction within 30 months,' he said. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the governments of Nepal and India for this project on June 1, 2023. This port, being built at a cost of Indian Rupees 2.37 billion, is expected to add a new dimension to Nepal's foreign trade. This project is spread over about 280 bighas of land in Mayapuri and Gaurishankar community forests in Wards 1, 2, and 3 of Dodhara-Chandani Municipality. The infrastructure to be built here will be very modern and well-equipped. Under the project, two large warehouses, a customs check post, a quarantine building, an immigration office, and security agency buildings will be constructed on an area of 42.36 hectares. There will be separate warehouses of 7,000 square meters for import and 2,500 square meters for export. There is a possibility of a direct connection with the Indian railway network here. For that, a plan has been prepared for a railway warehouse of 17,500 square meters and a container yard of 10,000 square meters. The Indian side has also intensified the work of constructing an access road (link road) in its area. The four-lane concrete bridge built over the Mahakali River and the six-lane access road have already connected this port with Mahendranagar and other parts of the country. India has also started road construction by relocating settlements in the forest area on its side. Although previous governments promoted it as a national pride project, locals remain skeptical due to the lack of work as expected. However, physical progress in construction is now visible. If the dry port comes into operation, Dodhara-Chandani will be established as Nepal's main trade gateway from Sudurpashchim Province. It is said that this will shorten the distance between Nepal and India's capital New Delhi and industrial areas.