The Rasuwagadhi border crossing has become operational after about six months. The Rasuwagadhi border crossing was blocked after the Lhendekhola bridge connecting China and Nepal was washed away by floods on Ashar 24. The border crossing became operational after China built a temporary bailey bridge across the river.

27 containers carrying goods entered Nepal on Thursday after the border was opened. Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai, Chief Officer of the Rasuwa Customs Office, who went to collect 28 empty containers, said.

‘The border has opened after a long time, and the customs office, which had become deserted, has started to be bustling,’ he said, ‘For the first time since the border, which was closed after the floods, has opened, apples, walnuts, and clothes have entered.’ The Nepali Army’s explosives have also been coming through this border. The explosives procured by the army are often used in the construction of tunnels, difficult sections of roads, and hydroelectric projects.

Previously, about 100 containers used to come and go through this border every day with goods. ‘The border has opened, now the number of containers is gradually increasing,’ said Bhattarai, ‘now electric vehicles are also entering through this border.’ As it was easy to move prepared goods through this border, most electric vehicles used to enter.

Goods from various hydropower projects have been entering through this border. The customs office said that it would be difficult to get such goods across the current bridge as they are brought in open form in vehicles. Goods made more than 7.5 meters high cannot be brought in open form through the bridge.

Since the border was closed at the beginning of Dashain, electric vehicles, fruits and clothes could not come. Due to which, it was difficult for businessmen to sell vehicles as per customer demand. After this border was closed, some goods and vehicles also entered through Korala in Mustang and Tatopani in Sindhupalchowk.

The Rasuwa Customs Office has stated that about 21 billion rupees in revenue has been lost so far (including the price of goods) since the border was closed. Customs Chief Bhattarai says that even though a small number of cargo vehicles entered Nepal from other border points after the border was closed, it did not have a major impact on revenue collection at the Rasuwa border point. After the border point is opened, cargo vehicles carrying goods from there will come to the Rasuwa customs yard. Although the yard on the banks of the Bhotekoshi was damaged by floods, it has been cleaned and made to accommodate about 200 cargo vehicles.

Not only has the livelihood of the locals been lost due to the long border point closure, the customs office's target of collecting Rs 40.16 billion in revenue in the current fiscal year has also been affected. Since the border point is closed, revenue collection has not been possible since the start of the new fiscal year. However, the locals are happy after the border point is opened.

Rasuwa Chief District Officer Rajesh Panthi said that with the opening of the border point in the presence of local level officials from both countries, containers have started coming in and out of the border.