Nepal intensifies crackdown on illegal Indian-registered vehicles in Madhesh

Nepali authorities have launched a crackdown on Indian-registered vehicles operating illegally in the southern Madhesh province bordering India, stepping up enforcement of customs regulations amid reports of large-scale violations.

The Home Ministry has ordered data collection from districts across Madhesh to determine the number of foreign-registered vehicles currently operating in the region. Security officials estimate that more than 10,000 Indian-registered vehicles may be running in the province without complying with customs rules.

The enforcement drive targets vehicles that enter Nepal without completing customs procedures or remain beyond the permitted duration. “We have tightened enforcement against vehicles operating without customs clearance ,” said police spokesperson Kamal Thapa in Janakpur, adding that monitoring foreign vehicles was important from a security perspective .

Customs officials explained that Indian vehicles travelling to nearby markets are issued a one-day free entry pass at border checkpoints. However, vehicles travelling further must pay the required customs duty and formally register their stay. Under existing rules, such vehicles can remain in Nepal for up to 30 days in a year after completing the required procedures.

Officials say monitoring has been difficult because 60 to 80 Indian vehicles enter daily through some border points, including Gaur in Rautahat district, with limited systems to verify whether they exit the same day.

The move has triggered political opposition in Madhesh . On April 12, several parties, including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party , Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) , and Janata Samajbadi Party , issued a joint statement demanding restoration of the earlier 30-kilometre cross-border mobility zone that allowed freer movement of Indian vehicles.

The practice is widespread because vehicles bought across the border are significantly cheaper , prompting many residents to register them in the names of Indian friends or relatives.

Former provincial minister Yogendra Yadav warned that measures affecting the historic open border between Nepal and India must be handled carefully, as they could impact long-standing social and economic ties between communities on both sides.