BUTWAL, Aug 12: A two-week-long security restrictions on vehicles by India along Belahiya check post has been relaxed a bit since Thursday. As a result, the long queue of vehicles entering Nepal from India has been reduced.
Inspector Rabin Bista of area police office Belahiya said that the three-kilometer-long queue that was formed from Belahiya customs point to Danda Bridge and bypass road, has now shortened by half.
The Indian security authorities said that the security checking has been expedited as they have increased the manpower assigned for it.
Electric lights to be installed along Belahiya-Butwal road
As the strict security checking along the border affected trade between Nepal and India, a team of Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) had requested Indian authorities to look into the matter.
Ram Kumar Sharma, president of SCCI, said that they had informed SSB commandant Shiva Dayal regarding the border security issues.
“We are in contact with the Indian authorities almost every day. We have been requesting them to resolve this issue,” said Sambhu Regmi, assistant chief district officer.
Earlier the Indian authorities had tightened border checking, citing security concerns, which affected imports and exports via Belahiya border. As the security checking has been relaxed now, transportation has become easier.
Generally 300-350 vehicles used to cross the border but following the tightening of border security, only 250 vehicles entered daily. On Wednesday 280 goods carriers had entered into Nepal, while 300 vehicles had arrived at the custom point by 5 PM on Thursday.
The tightened security checking brought down Bhairahawa Custom Office’s daily revenue from Rs 200 million to Rs 150 million.
During the blockade of 2015, the Belahiya - Bhairahawa border point was comparatively more relaxed, through which some of the essential consumer goods and fuel was imported into the country.
Indian security authorities have said that they have tightened security along the border targeting the Indian Independence Day of August 15. According to the Indian authorities, security checking will be back to normal after August 15.
