RASUWA: Cleanup operations have begun at the dry port near the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office, which was heavily affected by flooding in the Lhende River on July 08. The flooding had deposited large amounts of stones, sand, metal rods, timber, and other debris across the dry port premises.
With the Bailey bridge nearing completion after the flood swept away the Nepal–China friendship bridge, the process of cleaning the dry port has formally commenced, according to the Rasuwa Customs Office.
Nepal Intermodal Transport, the company assigned for the cleanup, has started clearing space for parking 75 cargo containers in the first phase. Managing Director Ashish Gajurel said that the second phase will create additional space for another 75 cargo containers.
Considering the pressure on halted cross-border goods transport since the bridge collapse, the dry port will be restored to accommodate 150 cargo container trucks in total, Gajurel explained. He added that the dry port had suffered up to 60 percent damage and the cleanup is expected to be completed within this winter.
Chief Customs Officer Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai said that while the dry port cleanup is underway, the Road Improvement Program has been requested to repair the damaged road infrastructure.
Freight operators and locals have demanded immediate repair of the Syafrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road, which suffered multiple landslides. They said current repairs are minimal and the road must be upgraded to allow 20-ton cargo trucks to operate safely. They also expressed concern over the deteriorating foundation of the bridge at Ghattekhola due to the swollen Thadokhola river, calling for urgent reinforcement to prevent further risk in transporting goods.
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