Kathmandu. The Bhadrapur bazaar, the oldest city of the country, which is mostly deserted throughout the year, is bustling with activity. KATHMANDU — Nepali businessmen here have been happy with the government’s decision to tighten customs checkpoints along the border with which business prospects have started appearing in the local market.

Bhadrapur: Businesses in Bhadrapur are showing positive signs as consumers and traders who have been dependent on the Indian market for a long time have gradually started returning to the domestic market. According to locals, the market has started to flourish after customs duty was imposed on goods worth more than one hundred rupees while importing goods from India.

The Galgaliya bazaar in the Indian state of Bihar was established as a major shopping center for the locals of Bhadrapur of Jhapa. The attraction of Nepali consumers was concentrated there as daily consumables, clothes and other goods were available at cheap prices. However, the recent tightening of customs points has had a direct impact on the trade activities in the border market.

According to Ravi Gupta, proprietor of Rabi Vastralaya in Bhadrapur-6, the business had slowed down until recently. “We had to leave the business and look for other options. “But the business of the last few days has given hope again. According to him, the current trade has increased by 30 to 40 percent compared to the past. He is confident that if this situation continues, the business will increase by a hundred percent.

Similarly, Shatrudhan Prasad, proprietor of Rajesh Store in Bhadrapur-6, also said that the business situation is promising. According to him, although the few days of trading have given a positive signal in the market, there is still uncertainty about its stability. “If the customs tightening continues, trade can increase further. “, he said.

Veteran journalist of Bhadrapur, Devendra Kishor Dhungana, recalls the historical commercial importance of Bhadrapur and said that Bhadrapur was very popular in the past. “Bhadrapur was the chief customs office of Jhapa until 2034 BS. “But after it was shifted to Kakarvitta, the commercial activity of Bhadrapur gradually decreased,” he said. According to him, although the current tightening of customs duties may not bring back the vibrancy of the past, it will definitely have some positive impact on trade.

The situation across the border also confirms this change. Pradip Ghosh, who runs a grocery store in Galgalia area of India, said that the number of Nepali customers has decreased. “Our main customers were Nepalis, and after they stopped coming, the business has dropped by 60 to 70 percent. “, he said.

He said that if this situation continues for a long time, there may be a compulsion to look for other alternatives. However, the experience of all traders is not the same. Narayan Limbu, a businessman of Nepali origin, who runs a Severo garment shop in Galgaliya, said that business has returned to normal. “Even though it has been a few days apart, now customers have started coming back. “The business has returned to normal as small quantities of goods have been allowed to be brought for household use,” he said. ’

Similarly, Rajan Chaudhary, who runs a footwear business some distance away from Galgaliya, said that he has to rely on Indian customers to sustain his business. “The number of Nepali customers has decreased significantly. “This has reduced our business by more than 30 percent,” he said. ’

The impact of the tightening of customs has also been seen in the movement of people. According to Prem Bahadur Lama, information officer at the Bhadrapur Customs Office, the decrease in traffic at the border has directly affected revenue collection. “As the movement of people decreases, the revenue from customs also decreases. “, he said.

Security agencies have also stepped up surveillance along the border. According to Deputy Superintendent of Armed Police Force (APF) Shankar Shah at APF Nepal No. 2 Battalion Headquarters, Jhapa, although there is some concession in the imported goods, they are allowed to enter the country only after screening the goods. “The goods have been allowed to enter only after paying the required customs duty, separating commercial and personal purposes. “, he said. According to him, although the Armed Police Force has been making continuous efforts to control illegal smuggling, complete control is challenging due to the open border with India. “It is not easy to take full control because of the long open border, but efforts to control it are continuing. “, he has clarified.

According to the data of Bhadrapur Customs Office, Rs 134.33 million revenue has been collected till May 2 in the current fiscal year 2082÷83. Goods like clothes, hardware, foodstuffs, electronic gadgets and other goods are imported from the checkpoint.

Overall, the tightening of customs seems to have changed the pattern of border trade. On the one hand, the Nepali market has increased and on the other hand, it has had a direct impact on the Indian market. However, it is still uncertain how this situation will play out in the long term. If the government’s tightness is maintained consistently and effectively, there is a possibility of reviving old markets like Bhadrapur.