BIRATNAGAR: Revenue collection at the Biratnagar Customs Office has been disrupted after customs agents working at India’s land port stopped work for two days, halting the clearance of cargo vehicles bound for Nepal. The disruption is estimated to have cost the Biratnagar Customs Office around Rs 220 million in revenue over Monday and Tuesday.

Biratnagar Customs normally collects an average of around Rs 110 million a day in customs duties and other revenue. Indian customs agents began the work stoppage on Monday morning, citing delays in clearance procedures and alleged unnecessary checks by Indian customs officials and the Border Security Force (BSF).

As a result, cargo vehicles that would normally enter Nepal after completing customs clearance in India have been unable to reach the Biratnagar Integrated Check Post. More than 1,000 trucks and other cargo vehicles are reportedly stranded at the Indian land port, according to the Biratnagar Customs Agents Association.

Association President Devakinandan Sharma said the agents have been demanding improvements to India’s customs computer system to make clearance faster and more efficient. He said vehicles that have already completed customs clearance are also being stopped for additional checks by the BSF, further delaying cross-border movement.

The delays have also increased costs for traders, with cargo operators having to pay additional parking charges at the Indian land port. Trucks and lorries carrying goods from India and third countries were unable to enter the Nepali customs area on Monday and Tuesday, Sharma said.

Biratnagar Customs Office Chief Umesh Shrestha confirmed that cargo vehicles had not arrived from the Indian customs side for the past two days because of the work stoppage. He said the agents were protesting delays and repeated checks by Indian customs officials and the BSF.

Shrestha said the Indian customs agents had not formally submitted their demands to the concerned customs office, preventing direct negotiations. However, the Nepali side has received information that customs operations are expected to resume from Wednesday.

The two-day disruption has not only affected immediate government revenue but has also disrupted the cross-border supply chain. A prolonged stoppage could further increase transportation and parking costs and create additional pressure on importers and traders using the Biratnagar trade corridor.