KATHMANDU, Aug 13: The restrictions imposed on tourists from third countries traveling to India via Nepali border posts during the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted.

The restrictions have been lifted due to Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak's initiative to ensure health vigilance in the agreement with India.

In mid-July, after Home Minister Lekhak assumed office, a positive discussion took place during a courtesy meeting with Indian Ambassador Naveen Kumar Srivastava regarding the removal of immigration service restrictions for third-country nationals entering India through border posts linked with India.

Following the Indian side’s decision to remove the immigration service restrictions and revert to the previous status from the fourth week of July, the home ministry has reported that tourist movement has now become smooth through border posts from Jhapa to Kanchanpur.

Home ministry Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai stated that, except for the Pashupatinagar border post in Ilam, which lacks an immigration office, tourist movement has become smooth through all other border posts connected with India.

Following Minister Lekhak's initiative, tourist movement to India has now been streamlined through the Kakarbhitta border point in Jhapa, Mohana in Kailali, Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur, Jamunaha in Banke, Belhiya in Bhairahawa, and the border posts in Biratnagar and Birgunj.

Spokesperson Bhattarai from the home ministry said, “The Pashupatinagar border point in Ilam has not been operational since there is no immigration office for India. Although the Jamunaha border in Banke has been opened, tourist movement has not started due to technical reasons.”

Similarly, Spokesperson Prem Dahal of the Department of Immigration mentioned that after the resumption of immigration services from the Indian side, the movement of tourists has become smooth.

He said that 78 tourists from third countries have gone to India through the Kakarbhitta border crossing and 114 tourists have entered Nepal through the crossing.

Similarly, he said that one person has entered through Mohana in Kailali, while 30 people have exited through the Birgunj border, and 37 tourists have entered Nepal.

Similarly, from the Gaddachauki border point in Kanchanpur, nine third-country tourists have exited, and 12 tourists have entered the country since the border became operational.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian side had imposed restrictions on immigration services for third-country nationals at these border posts starting from December 20, 2021.

 
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