Indian company awarded contract to operate Birgunj dry port

BIRGUNJ, PARSA: Pristine Mega Logistics Park, an Indian company, has been awarded the contract to manage and operate the Birgunj Inland Clearance Depot (ICD).

Asish Gajurel, Executive Director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, stated that Pristine Mega Logistics Park has been selected to operate and manage the dry port for the next five years at a cost of Rs 4.71 billion.

According to the Committee, Container Corporation of India and Pristine Mega Logistics Park were shortlisted through a technical evaluation of the tender for the dry port’s management and operation. Container Corporation of India had submitted a bid of Rs 4.51 billion.

The Committee stated that, following the signing of the contract agreement with the selected company, Pristine Mega Logistics Park will take over responsibilities starting mid-July for a five-year term.

Previously, the same company managed and operated the dry port under a five-year contract at a cost of Rs 3.33 billion.

The dry port at Sirsiya in Birgunj spans 57 bighas and receives goods exclusively by cargo train. Built in 2000 with World Bank loan assistance at a cost of Rs 820 million, the railway link from Raxaul to the dry port was constructed with Rs 200 million funding from the Government of India.

Meanwhile, the Birgunj Dry Port Customs Office has collected Rs 32.32 billion in revenue during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. In the previous fiscal year, it collected Rs 47.31 billion in revenue.

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