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The construction of the Dodhara Chandani Integrated Check Post and Dry Port, a national priority project, is set to begin soon, with preparatory work such as tree and utility pole removal nearing completion. The Council of Ministers had approved the use of 42.36 hectares of national forest land in the buffer zone of Shuklaphanta National Park (Dodhara Chandani Municipality-1, Kanchanpur) for the project on 18 Sept 2024, granting permission for tree and pole removal.

To implement this decision, a bilateral agreement was signed on Jan 7, between the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee. For the check post construction, 1,593 trees were identified for felling within the protected area. The Shuklaphanta National Park Office granted permission for tree felling on Feb 6.

A tender for tree felling was published on Feb 13, the contractor was selected, and work commenced on April 21. So far, 940 trees have been felled. The remaining trees are expected to be cleared by late June. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed between the Government of Nepal and the Government of India on 1 June 2023. The project, which is backed by Indian financial and technical assistance, is estimated to cost Rs 3.8bn. A construction company has been selected from the Indian side, and a formal agreement is expected soon.

“This project has reached this stage thanks to the active and coordinated efforts of Honorable Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari,” said Ashish Gajurel, Executive Director of the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee. He credited the progress to the approval of the project’s environmental impact assessment and the decision to permit tree felling. Gajurel also confirmed that the contract process is complete and that tree management will conclude within 15 days, allowing construction to begin within one to two months.

The dry port will feature state-of-the-art trade infrastructure, including roads, parking areas, platforms, warehouses, weighbridges, container yards, passenger terminals, customs facilities, banks, laboratories for livestock and food quarantine, administrative buildings, and other necessary structures. Once operational, it is expected to significantly facilitate trade and become a key milestone in the development of the Far West. In addition to enhancing import capabilities, the dry port is also intended to boost exports from the Far West. According to Gajurel, there are plans to connect the port with India in the second phase of development.

The gold is being traded at Rs 193, 700 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 75 and is being traded at Rs 2, 150 per tola today.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 5. 49 points to close at 2, 641. 46 points on Thursday.

The sensitive index, however, surged by 0. 10 points to close at 451. 43 points.

A total of 17,108,809-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 7. 97 billion.

Meanwhile, River Falls Power Limited (RFPL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 76 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 48 trillion.

The government has made it mandatory for both buyers and sellers to provide bank statements and complete Know Your Customer (KYC) forms before property deeds can be registered. According to the Directive on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities, 2025, issued by the Department of Land Management and Records (DoLMR) under the  Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, all real estate transactions must include bank statements verifying that funds have been transferred from the buyer’s account to the seller’s account. 

The move is aimed at strengthening anti-money laundering measures and removing Nepal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list. The FATF Plenary held in February placed Nepal on its ‘gray list’ due to concerns about the country’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) measures, particularly in high-risk sectors like real estate and cooperatives. The finance ministry is implementing plans to remove Nepal from the gray list.

Likewise, all land and property transactions exceeding Rs 30m in a single day must now be reported to the Financial Information Unit (FIU) of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Land revenue offices will also have to report suspicious transactions to the FIU. The directive was issued as per Section 7 (2) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008. As per the Act, the DoLMA is the regulating agency for the real estate sector. 

The DoLMA has issued a circular to all land revenue and land reform offices to enforce these measures immediately. As per the directive, any land and housing transactions between Rs 1m to Rs 5m  must be conducted through banking or digital payment systems, while those exceeding Rs 5m must use electronic payments or ‘good for payment’ checks issued directly in the seller’s name.

Additionally, for offices equipped to collect revenue through banks, registration fees and charges for transactions above Rs 1m must be paid from the buyer’s account, while capital gains tax must be deposited from the seller’s account into designated government revenue accounts. The ministry believes these measures will curb money laundering, ensure accurate transaction records, prevent tax evasion, reduce corruption in land revenue offices and promote transparency in Nepal’s economic system. 

In the first nine months of fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal saw a total of 380,175 land and housing transactions. The government mobilized Rs 33.2bn in revenue from these transactions.