Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 16:

Only two bidders, namely Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) and B Ghosh and Company, India, have submitted tender document for the operation and management of Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) based in Birgunj, by the last date for tender submission of March 14.

Informing about the bidders, Surya Bahadur Manandhar, executive director of Nepal Intermodal transport Development Board (NITD) said only two companies have submitted tender documents to operate the ICD. Despite these two companies being from India, Nepali partners will also be involved as per the provision of the ICD operation and management, said Manandhar while talking to The Himalayan Times.

Earlier, due to protests from the business community in relation to the mandatory provisions in the tender criteria for the operation and management of ICD, the ministry of industry, commerce and supplies had extended the date for submitting the bid till March 14.

According to Manandhar, the evaluation of these two tender documents will be completed within two weeks. A total of 16 different companies from India and Nepal had purchased tender documents.

But most of them could not submit the tender as they had to have a minimum of three years in the past 10 years in handling and operating rail-linked ICD in Nepal and India.