Kathmandu: Travel for visitors from third countries to the Gaddachauki border transit point has become easier following an initiative by Home Affairs Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The change comes after a meeting between Minister Lekhak and the Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, where they discussed lifting the restrictions on immigration services for citizens from third countries entering India through this checkpoint. These restrictions were initially put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The discussions focused on restoring the pre-pandemic status quo at the border checkpoints. Following these discussions, the Indian side removed the restriction on July 30, allowing easier movement of tourists from third countries via the Gaddachauki transit point. Padam Raj Bhatta, Chief of the Gaddachauki-based Immigration Office, confirmed the development, noting that seven foreign tourists have entered India from Nepal through this transit point since the restriction was lifted.

India had imposed the restriction on December 10, 2021, to curb the spread of COVID-19. For nearly three years, stakeholders and the private sector in Kanchanpur have been urging the government to allow foreign tourists to enter India via the Gaddachauki transit point without hindrance.

"The travel for tourists to India via the transit point has now been eased," said Bhatta. He mentioned that approximately 3,000 foreign tourists travel to and from India via the Gaddachauki transit point annually. The restriction had caused various problems for these visitors since the outbreak of the pandemic, but with the recent changes, travel has been simplified.