Tourists' entry to India via Gaddachauki checkpoint eased at Home Minister's initiative

KATHMANDU, Aug 05: Travel for visitors from third countries to Gaddachauki border transit point has become easier after the initiative of Home Affairs Minister Ramesh Lekhak. 

Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, had paid a courtesy call on the Home Minister at the Ministry after he took charge of his office. 

In the meeting, the Home Minister and the Indian ambassador discussed on removing the restriction in immigration service to citizens from third countries entering India via the checkpoints on the border with India that was put in place after the COVID-19 pandemic.

They had also talked on maintaining a status quo ante at the border checkpoints. 

Following the discussions between Home Minister Lekhak and Indian ambassador, the Indian side has removed this restriction since July 30 and eased the movement of tourists from third countries to India via the Gaddachauki transit point, said Padam Raj Bhatta, Chief of the Gaddachauki-based Immigration Office. 

"Seven foreign tourists have entered India from Nepal via this transit point since July 30," he said. 

India had imposed restriction on entry of foreign nationals to India through the Gaddachauki border check post since December 10, 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stakeholder bodies and private sector of Kanchanpur had been since three years calling on the government from time to time to allow the foreign tourists to enter India via the Gaddachauki transit point without any hindrance. 

"The travel for tourists to India via the transit point has now been eased," Bhatta said. 

According to him, around 3,000 foreign tourists travel to and from India via Gaddachauki transit point annually.

Visitors from third countries had been facing various problems after the Indian side prevented the foreign tourists' travel to India after the outbreak of Corona pandemic.