Morang, May 13: Consumer activity in markets across eastern Nepal’s border districts has increased after the government began strictly enforcing customs duties on goods worth more than Rs. 100 brought in through Indian border points.
Traders said the tighter enforcement has significantly reduced the number of Nepali shoppers travelling to Indian markets through border crossings such as Kakarbhitta and the Biratnagar–Jogbani route in Morang, as well as smaller border entry points.
Markets in Indian border towns such as Jogbani, Bela, Basmatiya and Birpur, which previously saw heavy inflows of Nepali consumers, have witnessed a noticeable decline in shoppers following the stricter checks.
Local residents said consumers in border districts, including Sunsari, who regularly crossed into India to purchase groceries, household goods and items for social and religious ceremonies, are now increasingly buying products from Nepali markets instead.
Sabitra Chandrabanshi of Barahakshetra–9 in Sunsari said she had long depended on nearby Indian markets because goods were cheaper there. She used to travel nearly 25 kilometres to markets such as Bela and Basmatiya for groceries and household supplies. However, after customs duties and stricter monitoring were introduced, she stopped shopping across the border and began purchasing goods locally.
Residents said stricter monitoring by customs and security officials has discouraged people from bringing in large quantities of goods under the pretext of household use.
“The practice of bringing in large amounts of goods without paying customs duty has declined. Unlike before, people are no longer allowed to carry large quantities in the name of household purposes,” said local resident Dhan Bahadur Lama.
Locals also said tighter border controls have helped curb smuggling activities that had become common due to the open border between Nepal and India.
Businesspeople in eastern Nepal have welcomed the increased checks, saying domestic markets are beginning to benefit. Traders who previously struggled to attract customers said retail sales have started to improve after stricter border monitoring came into effect.
Retail trader Mahesh Sharma said consumer activity in local markets has noticeably increased in recent weeks, encouraging businesses that had long suffered from cross-border shopping trends. #Nepal
