Kathmandu, May 3

The Chinese side responsible for developing the Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) Timure has refused to construct it as per the proposal of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB) — the authorised government agency to develop and manage ICDs.

The Chinese side has submitted a design to the government to build the ICD only on land that was provided by Langtang National Park, which will have an administrative building, warehouse and cargo clearance points. The NITDB has also acquired additional land for parking, cargo clearance points, security building and other facilities.

The Architectural Reconnaissance and Design Institute of the Tibet Autonomous Region (ARDITAR), deployed by the government of China for the survey and detail design of the ICD, had earlier submitted a design to develop two clearance points, adequate parking and warehouse facility utilising the land that was acquired by NITDB to expand the ICD project, which is going to be constructed with the support of the government of China.

However, citing an agreement with the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to develop ICD, the Chinese contractor deployed by government of China will develop ICD utilising area of Langtang National Park only. In this regard, NITDB officials said they will approach MoC and Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to develop ICD as per design prepared by ARDITAR.