Kavre, April 8

Nepal-China Tatopani border point in Sindhupalchowk that was closed for the past three years due to earthquakes of April 2015 is likely to open.

The Chinese side has deployed 300 security forces to clear obstacles at Khasa with a view to opening the border,

In line with the agreement between Chinese envoy to Nepal and Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, the Chinese side is upgrading and carrying out sanitation work at the 9-kilometre long road from Khasa to Miteri Bridge.

The work to upgrade the road and work at the dry port at Larcha in Sindhupalchowk signal that the Tatopani border point might open.

Nepal Truck Container Entrepreneurs Association Chairman Arjun Sapkota said they hoped the Tatopani border would open as work had started simultaneously at Khasa and the dry port.

According to Sapkota, the Chinese side had started work at the dry port intending to open the border point.

Chinese Railway Construction Company has resumed work at the dry port with the aim of finishing the project within two years.  China had constructed a dry port at Larcha of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchowk at a cost of Rs 12,000 million five years ago. Preparation is on to construct a bridge over the Sunkoshi River for the dry port.

Tatopani Customs Office Officer Krishna Basnet said the Chinese Contractor Company was working to build the road, bridge and other structures from Liping to the dry port along the Barhabishe-Tatopani road section.

According to Basnet, the company has plans to finish work on the dry port in eight months and upgrade the road in four months. Then, the plan is to reconstruct the damaged office, customs yard, and repair the quarters.

Work to repair the customs office, godown check yard, check posts, bank and residence is underway.

Following the earthquake, flood and landslips, the road had been slightly repaired at the neighbouring Tatopani bazaar while damaged houses up to Miteri Bridge have yet to be cleared. Prior to the earthquake, around 500 containers loaded with goods were stuck at Khasa.