KATHMANDU: Despite heavy rains, floods, and landslides impacting major highways across Nepal, the customs checkpoints at Birgunj, a vital trade route, continue to operate without interruption.

The two primary customs offices in Birgunj, the Integrated Checkpoint under the Birgunj Customs Office and the Dry Port Customs Office at Sirsia, handle nearly half of Nepal’s total imports.

Both customs locations have maintained operational customs clearance processes despite the challenges presented by flooding.

The Birgunj Customs Office's Chief Customs Administrator, Deepak Lamichhane, verified that although landslides and floods have closed several routes, they have not interfered with the clearance of customs.

"Businesses are proceeding with customs inspections and clearances despite the highway obstructions," Lamichhane said, noting that no complaints had been made about goods not reaching their destinations because of traffic delays.

He added that cargo vehicles heading to Chitwan and Hetauda are running regularly, avoiding significant disruptions.

The Birgunj customs office is vital for the importation of nearly 60 percent of Nepal’s petroleum products and vehicles.

The Birgunj Customs Office collected Rs 32.54 billion of the Rs 43.7 billion objective by the end of September, fulfilling 74.47 percent of its income target for the current fiscal year.

Similarly, operations at the Dry Port Customs Office have also remained unaffected by the ongoing floods.

Despite the constant rain, Dhan Bahadur Baruwal, the Chief Customs Officer of the Dry Port, stated that routine customs inspections still take place.

“Traders are rushing to clear goods as it is a festive season,” Baruwal noted, highlighting a surge in revenue collection on Tuesday due to increased customs clearances.

He added that the customs office is nearing its revenue targets, having already collected 48 percent of the monthly goal for Ashwin (mid-September to mid-October) within the first 15 days.

Baruwal mentioned that the import of foreign liquor has significantly contributed to this year’s boosted revenue collection.

On average, the Dry Port aims to collect Rs 150 million in daily revenue but has been achieving around Rs 110 to 120 million.

Over Rs 15.92 trillion worth of products were imported in the previous fiscal year; Birgunj Customs accounted for Rs 5.45 trillion, or 34.30 percent of overall imports.

The two customs offices at Birgunj together account for 47.08 percent of Nepal's total imports, indicating the importance of these offices in the nation's commerce network. The Dry Port accounted for 12.78 percent, or Rs 2.03 trillion, of all imports.