The planned Dodhara Chandani dry port will help boost connectivity of Nepal's far-western region. Set to become Nepal's fourth dry port along the India-Nepal border, the Rs 2.54-billion (around $29 million) project will serve as a major logistical hub and expand landlocked Nepal’s access to India through the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai. This will facilitate Nepal’s trade with Indian states such as Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana. Transporting goods to the country along these routes will substantially reduce trade costs. Currently, Nepal’s trade infrastructure is heavily reliant in the east, on India’s Kolkata port.  

Listed as a national priority project, the strategically located port will streamline Nepal’s trade flows and reduce transit time and costs for goods movement to/from India, as well as the global market. The dry port will make Nepal’s exports, including its agricultural products, handicrafts, textiles, and minerals, more competitive.   

Construction of the dry port is expected to begin in April 2025 with a completion timeline of 30 months. Features of the port will include administrative buildings, warehouses, quarantine facilities, cargo handling, and customs processing. India will construct a link road connecting the port to its national highway system. Twin Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) will be located along the border of India and Nepal, under a grant from the Government of India. Furthermore, other investments in transport infrastructure are being planned to improve accessibility to the dry port and the region, including roadways and railways.    
 

Related links 

Dodhara Chandani Dry Port will revolutionize trade and connectivity   

Indian side invites tender for construction of dry port in Kanchanpur