The business community has called on the government to ease movement at the Gaddachauki checkpoint. This demand was made during the 27th Annual General Meeting of the District Hotel Entrepreneurs Association held on Saturday.
Jang Bahadur Malla, a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), highlighted that the hassles at the checkpoint are discouraging tourists from visiting. “Tourists face nine checkpoints within a five-kilometer stretch, making it inconvenient for them to enter through this route,” he said.
Hotel entrepreneurs claim that unnecessary checks at the checkpoint have led to a decrease in the number of tourists entering Nepal through Gaddachauki. They demand an integrated security check system to resolve this issue. “An environment should be created for tourists to move easily through the checkpoint,” said Jagadish Chandra Bhatt, President of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association. “The government should establish an integrated security check to ensure smooth movement at the checkpoint.”
Security agencies, however, argue that the checks at the border do not cause any problems. Superintendent of Police Chakraraj Joshi, Chief of the District Police Office, stated that the police conduct checks at the border to ensure security, control drug trafficking, and curb other crimes. “The police checks do not inconvenience anyone,” he said. “The police are actively working to control illegal goods entering the country, and there has been an increase in revenue compared to the past.”
Rajendra Singh Rawal, former Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, also emphasized the need for an integrated security check system at the checkpoint. “Both the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force conduct nine checks within a five-kilometer stretch from the border to Mahendranagar,” Rawal said. “Such frequent checks within a short distance send a negative message.”
The business community hopes that the government will take immediate steps to streamline the security procedures at the Gaddachauki checkpoint to promote tourism and ease the movement of travelers.
