The dry port will make Nganglam a major trading hub of eastern Bhutan

Neten Dorji

Nganglam—If all goes according to plan, the mega dry port at Pelzomthang in Nganglam, set to open by mid-2026, will enhance trade opportunities for exporters and importers across six eastern dzongkhags.

This state-of-the-art dry port will feature essential facilities, including cold storage, a weighbridge, a covered trans-shipment shed, designated storage for hazardous materials, a warehouse for seized goods, and an export warehouse.

The project is being developed in two phases. The first phase, which involves site development, boundary walls, entry and exit gates with security cabins, parking lots, roads, cable ducts, footpaths, and drainage system, has been completed.

Currently, approximately 60 percent of the physical structures are complete.

Project Manager Jigme Dorji said that work is progressing well and it is on schedule. “We are taking all necessary measures to stay on schedule.”

The dry port will feature import and export warehouses, each with a capacity of 500 metric tonnes. The port will also have cold storage facilities for 200 metric tonnes of goods and a dedicated customs clearing office.

The second phase, which includes constructing a cold storage facility and a customs clearing office, is ongoing. The T&K Construction is leading this phase.

Site manager Kelzang said that the dry port will be completed on time despite facing challenges like rainfall, limited space, and a shortage of quality materials.

“Given the location near the border, we expect to finish ahead of schedule,” he said, adding that 60 skilled and unskilled workers are involved in the project.

Once operational, the dry port will streamline import and export processes through India and Bangladesh. The port will significantly benefit the economies of the central and eastern dzongkhags by making trade easier and more efficient.

Officials from the trade department said that the development of the dry port would create a wide range of employment opportunities across various sectors, from low-paying cargo handling jobs to high-paying positions in information technology, banking, management, and executive roles.

Covering 7.34 acres, the port’s proximity to the Indo-Bhutan border further enhances its potential as a vital trading hub.

Strategically located about 140 km from Guwahati Airport, Nganglam has potential to become an important trading hub for the eastern dzongkhags.

“We can utilise the many cargo planes in Guwahati to export our produce,” said a businessman, Chorten Tshering. “The waterways to Bangladesh will also facilitate trade, making Nganglam a pivotal crossroads for Bhutan’s commerce.”

He said that since Nganglam is strategically located at the crossroads of eastern, western, central, southern, and northern dzongkhags, the dry port will enhance trading convenience for the region.

The dry port is one of the five major dry ports the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had pledged to construct as part of its commitment to boosting trade and economic development.

“These initiatives are expected to stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, and enhance Bhutan’s global competitiveness,” states PDP’s manifesto.

The dry port is projected to cost Nu 530 million, which is funded by the Government of India.