RASUWA: A year after the devastating flood in the Lhende Khola disrupted operations at the Timure customs point for six months, trade through the Nepal-China border has largely returned to normal. However, construction of the Chinese-funded dry port at Timure remains at a standstill.
The dry port project, backed by an investment of Rs 2.16 billion from the Chinese government, was around 80 percent complete when the flood damaged warehouses, embankments and parking areas. The administrative building escaped major damage, but construction has not resumed since the disaster.
Although the customs office operates nearby, the dry port project falls under the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee (NITDB).
Technical Director Yubak Dangol said no discussions or decisions have been made on how to resume construction.
“The project has remained suspended since the flood. There has been no discussion or decision on how to move it forward,” Dangol said, adding that no budget has been allocated for rebuilding the dry port or customs yard.
According to the committee, the government has two options: coordinate with the Chinese government to bring the contractor back to the site or complete the remaining construction on its own if China decides not to continue.
Construction of the dry port began in November 2019 with a target of completion within 30 months, but progress was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic before the flood halted the project entirely.
Following the disaster, the Chinese contractor’s project manager, Yang Li, reportedly suggested relocating the dry port, arguing that the current site was unsuitable. Nepal has yet to propose an alternative location, while China has shown little interest in rebuilding the facility at the existing site.
The flood on July 8, 2025, swept away the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge. Trade and cross-border movement have since resumed via a temporary Bailey bridge constructed by China.
About 2.5 kilometres downstream, however, the customs yard and the under-construction dry port remain heavily damaged. Customs inspections are currently being conducted from temporary sheds that survived the flood.
According to Rasuwa Customs Officer Prem Subedi, the damaged customs yard continues to be used due to a lack of alternative space.
Three buildings, including an integrated customs building and facilities for security agencies, are under construction at the border. These structures were largely unaffected by the flood.
Subedi said the new customs building will house the passenger customs section, food testing centre, quarantine office and laboratory.
He added that customs clearance and cargo handling have become more difficult since the permanent Friendship Bridge was replaced by a temporary steel bridge, which cannot accommodate multiple heavily loaded containers at the same time.
“The customs yard previously had ample space, allowing inspections to continue even during rainfall while ensuring the safety of goods. After the flood, there is no warehouse or sufficient open space. Traders now have to wait on-site and worry about the safety of their goods,” he said.
According to the preliminary government assessment, the flood caused damages worth Rs 66.28 billion to customs infrastructure, vehicles, hydropower projects and roads.
The report estimated physical damage to the dry port alone at Rs 912 million, while losses to the customs office, customs yard, goods, vehicles, containers and equipment amounted to around Rs 705.1 million.
Although several hydropower projects affected by the flood have resumed operations, major damage to the customs yard, the unfinished dry port and sections of the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road remains unrepaired one year after the disaster.
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