Indian Custom office at Jogbani starts charging entry-fee to Nepali vehicles

Kathmandu January 12- India’s Jogbani customs office on Monday introduced a new rule, under which vehicles with Nepali licence plates have to obtain a ticket for crossing the border.

A ticket will be valid for 24 hours and costs Rs30 for motorcycles, Rs70 for city rickshaws, Rs80 for small four-wheelers, and Rs150 for buses, according to Rani Area Police Office Inspector Ganga Paudel, adding the rule was not applicable to vehicles carrying industrial raw materials, readymade items and trading goods.

Nepali customs offices are already charging entry fee from Nepal-bound Indian vehicles. Officer at Biratnagar Customs Office Arjun Neupane said the Indian side introduced such a provision due to excessive traffic and disturbances to commuters and cargo vehicles in Jogbani from freely-entering Nepali vehicles.