Nepal Oil Corporation Limited is preparing to relocate the Sudurpashchim Depot in Dhangadhi to make it more advanced and smart. The depot, planned to be completed by Baisakh 2084 (April-May 2027), is estimated to cost a total of NPR 3.5 billion.
The relocation is being undertaken due to the depot’s current location in a densely populated area, which is deemed unsafe and too congested. The existing depot occupies an area of 1 bigha and 8 kathas. For the new depot, land covering 20 bighas, 16 kathas, and 8 dhurs has been acquired.
Pradeep Yadav, chief engineer of the Aviation Fuel Depot at Sinamangal under the Oil Corporation, stated that land has been secured to construct a new depot capable of meeting the demand of nine districts in Sudurpashchim Province.
The current depot, established in 2037 BS (1980 AD), has become outdated and was initially designed to meet a daily demand of only four tankers. It can no longer handle the current demand and is also considered unsafe from a security perspective.
“The Dhangadhi Depot was established in 2037 BS to cater to the daily demand of four tankers. It is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of nine districts. Therefore, we are moving forward with preparations to relocate and upgrade it to ensure safety and better facilities,” said Yadav.
Yadav mentioned that the new depot would be fully automated and digital. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new depot is scheduled for the first week of Baisakh 2082 (April-May 2025), and its Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared by Kathmandu University. Engineer Vivek Baral from Kathmandu University assured that the work would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
