Small customs office upgraded

JANAKPUR, JAN 18 -

The Finance Ministry has upgraded the small customs office in Lagmajatahi, Janakpur, and India too is all set to open a customs clearance post in the bordering Pipraun Gaun.

This development is expected to help local traders do export/import at larger scales. Currently, the traders can export or import goods worth juts Rs 5,000 through the small customs office.

Following the disruption of the railway service, the traders had been facing problems in importing goods in bulk.

Chief Customs Officer Ganapati Kandel said an upgraded customs office would come into operation soon. “Once the Indian customs clearance office opens, customs procedure in the border area will be shortened significantly,” he said. “We have been informed about the Indian government’s decision to open the customs clearance office informally,” said Kadel, adding it takes a little time to arrive the formal decision.

The ministry decided to upgrade the small customs office on December 1.

Local residents said Indian officials were searching land for the clearance post and quarantine.

Meanwhile, Dhanusha CDO Krishna Prasad Dhungana, SP Ganesh Bahadur Thapa and Janakpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials observed the customs office area.

Following the closure of Janakpur-Jayanagar railway service, traders were facing problems in importing goods from India for the last two years. Due to lower transactions, the Janakpur Customs Office’s revenue collection stood at just 21 percent of the target in the last fiscal year.

The India government had established its customs office in Jayanagar targeting the movement of goods through Janakpur-Jayanagar rail service, while the Nepal government opened the main customs point targeting the Janakpur Cigarette Company.

Locals had been demanding an alternative route after closure of the railway service.

Source: The Kathmandu Post