The Customs Department had given Birgunj Customs a revenue collection target of Rs 273.3948 billion.
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The Birgunj Customs Office, the country's main customs point, failed to meet its annual revenue collection target in the fiscal year 2082/83. Collecting only 89.19 percent of the revenue target set by the department, the office fell short of the target by about 29.57 billion rupees.
The Customs Department had given Birgunj Customs a revenue collection target of 273.39 billion rupees. However, the office has been able to collect only 243.82 billion rupees in revenue during the year.
The Customs Department's nationwide annual target of 588.25 billion rupees was set to be collected from Birgunj Customs. Based on actual collection, Birgunj Customs' contribution to the department's total revenue is 41.47 percent.
In the last month of the fiscal year, Birgunj Customs has collected more revenue than the target. The office collected 22.47 billion rupees against the revenue target of 21.98 billion rupees for Ashar. The office's data shows that the average daily revenue collection was Rs 711.8 million despite the daily target of Rs 751.16 million.
Last year, a significant improvement in revenue collection was expected after the Sirsia Dry Port was merged with the Birgunj Customs Office. But the annual target could not be met.
However, there has been an improvement in revenue collection compared to the previous fiscal year. In the fiscal year 2081/82, against a target of Rs 279 billion, Birgunj Customs collected only Rs 225.73 billion, or about 80 percent of the target. In comparison, the target achievement ratio in the last fiscal year seems to have increased.
Last year, import and export were affected due to the Gen-Z movement and the dispute over the MRP label, which affected revenue collection. Apart from that, the office says that revenue collection is satisfactory under normal circumstances.
There is an arrangement for importing and exporting goods through both road and rail from the Birgunj border. The main source of revenue is imported goods. The highest revenue is collected from fuel, new vehicles, iron-based materials, industrial raw materials, alcohol and electrical equipment.
The data shows that the highest revenue was collected from the import of LP gas, jeep-car-van, motorcycle, raw materials used in the production of edible oil, other buses and trucks, biscuits and automobile parts in Ashar. The main items on the export side are soybean and sunflower oil, juice, jam and other items.
Chief Customs Administrator of Birgunj Customs Office Krishna Prasad Mainali said that the annual revenue target could not be met due to the slowdown in international trade, failure to expand domestic economic activities as expected, disputes regarding MRP labels and a decrease in the import of industrial raw materials. He expressed confidence that revenue collection would improve in the coming days as efforts are ongoing to make trade facilitation and service delivery more effective.
Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hari Gautam said that due to its geographical proximity to Kolkata, Haldia and Visakhapatnam ports, Birgunj border will be the first choice for most importers and exporters. He said that if the customs service flow can be made faster, technology-friendly and easier, there will be a significant increase in revenue collection along with trade expansion.
