Nepal’s Tatopani border crossing with China reopened on Sunday, raising hopes among traders of bringing in goods for the Dashain festival after weeks of disruption. But uncertainty over how long the crossing will remain open has left businesses worried they may not be able to bring in their shipments in time.
Padma Raj Timalsina, chief of the Tatopani Immigration Office, said the Chinese side had opened the border gate on Sunday.
“The gate has opened today. Container traffic has just started. It may take some more time for normalcy. We are ready,” Timalsina said.
China had fully closed the Tatopani crossing from August 31 until further notice. The closure followed a devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River on August 26 that damaged settlements in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Chinese authorities did not formally explain the reason for the closure.
Timalsina said officials at immigration, customs and other concerned offices had been told on Friday to remain ready for the reopening.
Bimal Prasad Paudyal, ward chairman of Bahrabise Municipality-8 and a long-time trader, said he had received indications through the Chinese administration that the reopening might be temporary.
Shashidhar Ghimire, chief district officer of Sindhupalchok, said officials from Nepal and China had been working to reopen the crossing, while traders had also been anticipating the move. Last week, a Chinese Embassy delegation, along with officials from Nepal’s foreign, finance and commerce ministries, the customs administration and the Department of Roads, inspected the border area.
The closure left containers waiting to cross into Nepal held up on both sides of the border. A long queue built up in Liping and Kodari on the Nepali side, while more than 45 containers carrying goods for Dashain remained in Nyalam on the Chinese side.
Sharada Prasad Parajuli, an executive committee member of the Nepal Himalaya Trans-Himalayan Commerce Association and a fruit trader, said businesses on both sides were waiting for container movements to resume fully.
“Containers are lined up on the Nepali side, while more than 45 containers carrying Dashain goods are held up in China. Traders are worried about how they will bring in their goods ahead of the festival if the crossing operates only temporarily for a few days,” he said.
Reconstruction of the border town of Khasa is nearing completion. However, Chinese authorities have yet to decide whether to resume regular operations at Tatopani, given the geographical risks in the border region.
Traders say a sustained reopening would make it easier to import clothing, fruit and other goods from China for Dashain, Nepal’s biggest annual festival. With no clarity on how long the crossing will remain open, they remain uncertain whether their shipments will arrive in time.