Kathmandu, March 19

After a long dilly-dallying in transfer of land ownership, the construction of Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) in Chobhar, which is to be built with the support of World Bank Group, is set to gather momentum.

Nepal Intermodal Transfer Development Board (NITDB) - the implementing agency of the project - has sought bids to award the construction contract of the ICD Chobhar. The bids will be awarded by the end of April, according to Laxman Bahadur Basnet, executive director of NITDB.

“We will be awarding two contracts at the same time to take forward the construction works simultaneously from two contractors, as we have to complete the project by 2019.”

The World Bank Group had almost dropped the project due to the delay in land ownership transfer.

The land ownership transfer process of Himal Cement at Chobhar was initiated on November 20, 2014, as the Cabinet had decided to transfer the land to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to develop ICD on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley.

However, out of the total 816 ropanis of land owned by Himal Cement, only 366 ropanis was transferred to government and local community had taken over remaining 450 ropanis for forest conservation.

Consequently, it took three years for the government to transfer the ownership of total land. Hence, the project - supposed to be completed by January this year, as per the initial deadline - suffered massive delays.

“The construction works will be expedited as we are really pressed for time,” Basnet said.

The World Bank is extending an assistance worth $15.5 million for this particular component under Nepal-India Regional Trade and Transport Project (NIRTTP).

The World Bank had aimed to close the financial reporting of the NIRTTP by 2019. However, considering the efforts of the NITDB to execute the project and witnessing the progress being made for implementation of the ICD project, World Bank has provided an extension of one year.