Birgunj Inland Clearance Depot (BICD)
About BICD
BICD (Sirsiya Dry Port) is Nepal’s only rail-linked inland container depot, at Birgunj on the India border, operated by Pristine Valley Dryport Pvt. Ltd. It has an installed capacity of 60,000 TEUs annually and handled 45,000 TEUs in FY25.
BICD, also known as the Sirsiya Dry Port, stands as Nepal’s most critical “land-link” to global trade. It is the country’s only rail-linked terminal, handling over 50% of Nepal’s containerised traffic. As the country’s first and most developed rail-linked terminal, it serves as the primary conduit for cargo moving between Nepal and the Indian seaports of Kolkata, Haldia, and Visakhapatnam.
The ICD is located at Sirsiya, Birgunj, Parsa District, Nepal, bordering Raxaul, Bihar, India.
Global giants, including Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM, offer through-bill-of-lading services, allowing containers to be cleared directly in Birgunj. Pristine Valley Dryport Pvt. Ltd. is the sole commercial operator and manager of the Birgunj Inland Clearance Depot (ICD). While the facility is owned by the Government of Nepal, through the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB), Pristine Valley operates it. It is a Joint Venture (JV) created to bridge Indian logistics expertise with a local presence in Nepal. Pristine Logistics & Infraprojects (India) holds a majority stake (approximately 89%). The remaining 11% is held by the local Nepalese partner, the Valley Group, which provides local regulatory and business integration in Nepal.
The Birgunj Integrated Check Post (ICP), located 3 km away, handles the majority of road-based truck traffic, while the ICD handles rail cargo. Birgunj acts as the “Transit Hub” for the Chobhar dry port in Kathmandu. Bhairahawa Dry Port and Biratnagar Dry Port are the second- and third-most important trade gateways in Nepal; both have shifted in 2025–2026 from road-only hubs to rail-integrated terminals as Nepal diversifies its trade routes beyond the Birgunj corridor.
Equipment
- High-capacity Reach Stackers (45-ton) for stacking containers up to 5-high
- Six Rail-Mounted Sidings for simultaneous rake operations
- Specialised forklifts (3t to 25t) and prime movers for internal drayage
- Dual electronic weighbridges for accurate cargo measurement
Facilities & infrastructure
- Over 420,000 sq. ft. of covered storage, including three large warehouses for LCL cargo, on a 94-acre site
- Fully integrated with ASYCUDA World and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS)
- An on-site Customs Lab testing facility to expedite the clearance of chemical and pharmaceutical imports
Why shippers choose BICD
- It remains Nepal’s only functional rail-linked container terminal, offering a significant cost advantage over road transport
- Its ability to handle long-haul rakes from Visakhapatnam allows Nepal to avoid congestion at older Indian river ports
- Strategic agreements with shipping lines provide 14 days’ free time for empty container returns to Indian ports, the highest in the region
Shipping lines & services
Hinterland connectivity
Rail & road
Rakes arrive from and depart to the Indian ports of Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Haldia. Pristine Valley manages the full life-cycle of a container in the terminal: train arrivals and departures, labour for loading and unloading, the 94-acre yard and 420,000 sq. ft. of warehouses, and digital tracking (ECTS). The Birgunj Integrated Check Post (ICP), 3 km away, handles most road truck traffic, while the ICD handles rail cargo.
Frequently asked questions
Who operates BICD?
BICD is owned by the Government of Nepal through NITDB and operated by Pristine Valley Dryport Pvt. Ltd., a JV of Pristine Logistics (about 89%) and Nepal’s Valley Group (11%).
What is the capacity of BICD?
Installed capacity is 60,000 TEUs annually. Throughput in FY25 was 45,000 TEUs, or 75–80% utilisation.
What is the port code for BICD?
The UN/LOCODE-style port code is NPBIR.
Where is BICD located?
BICD is at Sirsiya, Birgunj, Parsa District, Nepal, on the border with Raxaul, Bihar, India.
How is BICD connected by rail?
It is Nepal’s only rail-linked container terminal, receiving rakes from Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Haldia ports in India.
In the news
Classification
Source: South Asia Container Market Report 2026, p. 81. Last updated Jan 2026.
