Dry port construction in Kanchanpur sparks local hopes for employment and development
Kanchanpur: The ongoing construction of a dry port in Dodhara Chandani, Kanchanpur, has ignited hopes among locals for employment and regional development, with residents anticipating economic transformation through increased industrial activity and connectivity.
Ram Khadka, 60, of Bhumiraj Tole in Dodhara Chandani Municipality-1, migrated from Siliguri, Doti in 2022 BS due to a lack of arable land. Now cultivating two bighas of land, Khadka recalls the past hardships—no roads, electricity, and fear of wild animals and robbers—and says he never imagined a dry port would be constructed so close to home. With tree felling underway for port development, Khadka believes the project could provide local employment, especially for youth, and reduce dependence on Indian cities for work. His son, previously employed in the Mahakali Four-Lane Bridge project, is now jobless, and the family hopes the dry port will bring new opportunities.
The infrastructure supporting the port, including a four-lane concrete bridge over the Mahakali River and a six-lane road from Gaddachauki to the port site, has already transformed the area's appearance and accessibility. Locals like Neeraj Bhatta note that travel to Mahendranagar, once dependent on Indian roads and the Sharda Barrage, has become significantly easier. Bhatta highlights rising land values and optimism among locals, many of whom previously migrated to Indian cities for employment.
Jang Bahadur Malla, a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the strategic value of the western border. He noted that proximity to Rudrapur—India's largest industrial zone in Uttarakhand—presents a major trade opportunity for the Far West, which remains underutilized. Malla believes the dry port and integrated check post will expand trade and generate employment across the region.
The Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee has begun felling 1,593 trees within the Gaurishankar Community Forest, under a contract worth Rs. 4.1 million. Committee engineer Anish KC confirmed that site clearance is underway for the 42.36-hectare project site.
According to the committee, the dry port will feature two warehouse buildings, a customs check facility, quarantine and immigration offices, a security building, and other infrastructure. The dry port is being built under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 1, 2023, between the governments of Nepal and India, with the Indian government providing financial and technical support. The Indian side has already called for construction bids, estimating a project cost of INR 2.54 billion.
Once operational, the dry port and western border checkpoint are expected to open new avenues for trade and economic development in the Far West, making it a vital gateway to India’s capital New Delhi and nearby industrial hubs.