Global map to show Nepali dry ports

Nepali dry ports will soon be visible in the global map of United Nations so that importers and exporters from any part of the world can figure out the origin or destination ports of their cargos or goods.
Government is preparing to register Nepali dry ports with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The dry ports, which have been operational since the early 2000s are still not listed in the global map. “Our dry ports will be visible in the global map once we register them with the UNECE,” Sarad Bikram Rana, president of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board told Republica on Saturday.
Once registered the dry ports will be assigned codes. “In order to register them with the global map of the UNECE, they should first be registered in the national government authority,” Rana elaborated on the government´s preparation for a Dry Port Registration Regulation (DPRR). Ministry of Commerce and Supply is preparing to endorse DPRR which will give them code recognized by UNECE.
“We were facing problems since our dry ports were nowhere in the global map,” Rana explained, “This will not be the situation anymore. Anyone who wants to dispatch cargos and goods can easily locate the dry ports where they want to send and vice versa.” Currently exporters who trade with Nepal, use the location of Calcutta port.
Dry ports in Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa were developed under the government´s Nepal Multimodal Transit and Trade Facilitation Project (NMTTFP) with an estimated total cost of US$ 28.5 million, which include US$ 23.5 million credit from the World Bank and US$ 5.0 million from the government. The project was initiated in 1998 to construct rail based inland containers depots (ICD) in Birgunj and road based ICDs in Biratnagar and Bhairahawa.
In addition, the government has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with China to develop a dry port in Larcha, Tatopani. Similarly, it is working on a feasibility study to develope dry port in Chandani-Dodhara.
“After endorsing the DPRR, there would be a proper guidance as well for the management of ICDs,” Himal Thapa, under secretary of the MoCS said.