Kailash Terminals JV has won the contract to operate the integrated check post at Birgunj for the next five years.

The check post came into operation in April, 2018. The private company quoted Rs1.8 billion for the project. The minimum rental amount was set at Rs685.7 million when the bids were invited.

Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board, the regulator, had invited international competitive bidding to operate the integrated check post on July 27 last year.

Kailash Terminals is a joint venture between Nepal’s Bindabasini Logistics Private Limited, India’s TRS Lift and Shift Services Private Limited and Apeejay Shipping Limited.

Of the two integrated check posts each at Birgunj and Biratnagar and five dry ports at Bhairahawa, Kakarbhitta, Tatopani, Chobhar and Sirsiya under the ownership of the board, only Chobhar dry port is still operated by the board itself.

With the objective of facilitating trade between Nepal and India by providing all services from one place under the one-window system, an agreement was made to build an integrated border check post at Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairawa and Nepalgunj border points with financial and technical support from the Indian government.

The integrated check posts have customs, immigration, animal and plant quarantine, necessary parking for customs, laboratory, authorised barracks, security barracks, electricity substation, petrol pump, fire truck, two entrances, security wall, water tank, seed house, warehouse, bank, among others.

During the interaction organised by Kailash Terminals JV on Saturday, Indian customs officials said they were ready to cooperate with Nepali officials.

Rajendra Prasad Chudal, chief of Birgunj Customs Office, asked Kailash Terminal JV not to increase the service charge.

“An environment should be created to run the customs office from early in the morning to prevent the crowd of service seekers during the day,” said Chudal.

Madhav Prasad Baral, chief executive officer of Kailash Terminals JV, said local jobs have been prioritised at the integrated check post.