Madhesh crackdown on Indian-registered vehicles rattles political parties

Nepal-India open border has long allowed the easy movement of Indian-registered vehicles across the Madhesh province. But in recent weeks, the growing presence of the vehicles with Indian registration on roads in the province—and a renewed crackdown by local authorities—has sparked a contentious debate over whether such mobility is a necessity or a regulatory failure. According to provincial and local authorities, stricter monitoring has become unavoidable as the unauthorised use of Indian-registered vehicles has surged, raising concerns about security, tax evasion and legal accountability. Yet political parties and many locals argue that tightening controls risks disrupting long-standing social and economic ties across the border. On April 12, major political parties, including the CPN-UML, Nepali Communist Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Janata Samajbadi Party, issued a joint statement opposing the restrictions of Indian-registered vehicles. They demanded that such vehicles be allowed to operate freely within a 30-kilometre radius of the border, as had been the practice in the past. The parties warned of protests if the administration proceeds with stricter enforcement. District officials, however, insist that the move is aimed at enforcing existing laws rather than introducing new restrictions. “Vehicles entering Nepal must comply with customs rules. Driving without paying customs duties is illegal, and we are simply implementing the law,” said Ramuraj Kadariy