A team of experts visited the construction site of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Birgunj which is being developed under the assistance of Indian government.

The expert team under the leadership of Laxman Bahadur Basnet – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Intermodal Transport Development Committee collected information and suggestions from stakeholders of the project. 

Swarnim Wagle, member of National Planning Commission (NPC), Purushottam Ojha – Chairman of Nepal Transit and Warehousing Comapny, Rabishankar Sainju – joint secretary of Commerce Ministry and Trade Facilitator Himal Thapa were part of the team.  

“We had serious discussion with the stakeholders on the current status of ICP and possible modalities under which the post can be operated,” said Basnet. “We had separate discussion with representatives of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officials of Dry Port Custom Office of Birgunj, Sirsiya Dry Port Office and the representatives of International Shipping Company Maersk.”

The industrialists participating in the discussion have requested reducing the current business loss by running the ICP as soon as possible.

The custom officials have pointed out the shortage of parking yard and warehouses. They also demanded widening the 700 metre link road that connects ICP to Chandal crossroad. The team also spoke with the Chief District Officer Keshabraj Ghimire who is assigned to acquire private land needed to expand the link road. 

Ghimire, during the meeting with the team informed the land acquisition is at final stage. 

Basnet said the operational modality of the ICP will be determined based on the suggestions and recommendation of expert team.

The ICP which is in the final stage of ongoing construction will be operated by the Intermodel Transport Development Committee. 

The ICP is expected to facilitate trade between Nepal, India and other countries. The ICP on the Indian side was completed last year. Indian authorities have opened a road linking Patna and Birgunj. They have pledged to have the ICPs on either side of the border up and running as soon as construction on the Nepal side is completed.

Nepal and India signed an accord in 2005 to build a string of ICPs straddling the border at Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. 

India has spent around IRs860 million to build the infrastructure in Birgunj. The ICP consists of 22 buildings and roads, yards and other infrastructure.