December 5: Trans Nepal Freight Services JV, selected from an international bid for the operation of Chobhar Dry Port, has signed an agreement with Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee to share a minimum of Rs 28.8 million rent and charge for five years while operating the newly-built facility.

Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee is currently entrusted with the operation of the dry port. The committee is a regulatory body formed in accordance with the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee (formation) Order, 2054.  As per the agreement signed on Monday, Trans Nepal Freight will operate and manage Chobhar Dry Port from December 15.    
Director of the committee Yubak Dangol and Managing Director of Trans Nepal Freight, Mukesh Kumar Rathi, signed the contract agreement in the presence of the committee’s Executive Director Ashish Gajurel.    
The committee had issued international tender bids on July 24 for the operation and management of the dry port and integrated check post as well as container freight station under the committee.
On the occasion, Executive Director Gajurel shared that the commercial use of Chobhar Dry Port has increased within 20 months of its operation and the government will get more revenue if the operation and management of the dry port is given to the private sector.    
Similarly, Managing Director Rathi expressed the belief that the support received earlier from other government bodies and stakeholders including Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee will continue for the effective operation and management of the dry port in the coming days. -- RSS