BIRGUNJ : Management has been challenged due to the absence of empty containers for a long time in the ‘yard’ of the Sukhabandagah Customs Office in Sirsia of Birgunj.
In the absence of empty container rotation since the Covid-19 pandemic, empty containers have been seen in the customs yard. Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, chief customs officer of Sukhabargah customs office, said that there was a problem in space management as there were 1,576 empty containers in the customs yard of the port.
“Especially during the Covid pandemic, the cargo trains left the freight containers and went back with empty rakes. The empty containers that have piled up since then are still intact, “he said,” Now freight containers carry goods. The goods are loaded. At the same time, there has been a tendency to keep the previous empty container in the status quo while carrying the empty container. ”
According to the office, there are 200 containers containing various items and equipment to be auctioned.
Chief customs officer Baruwal said that a cargo train with empty racks should come to take the empty containers. “The cargo train has the capacity to unload at least 60 containers at a time,” he said, adding, “At least 20 to 30 containers with empty racks have to be brought to remove the empty containers here. Businessmen also seem to be hesitating as the cost of bringing only empty racks will be very high. ”
Chief Customs Officer Baruwal informed that Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee and India’s Pristine Valley Dry Port are in discussion to remove the empty containers. Containers at the dry port customs office were seen full, but most were empty, he said. “From outside, the customs yard looks full. But, due to rythu containers, yard management is also adding to the problem, “he said.
A lot of freight containers come here, especially from Visakhapatnam and Kolkata. The dry port is located in an area of 57 bighas. This is a type of port where cargo is brought only by rail. It was built at a cost of Rs 82 crore with the help of a World Bank loan in 2000. The rail link from Raxaul to the port has been built at a cost of Rs 20 crore by the Government of India.
At present, the work of dry port management is being done through the Intermodal Transport Development Committee. A contract has been signed between Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee and India’s Pristine Valley Dryport for Rs 3.33 billion for five years. Prishtin provides an average of Rs 66 crore annually to the committee for the operation and management of the dry port.
