Dipak Prasad Gautam
Birgunj: After the budget abolished excise duty on import of electric vehicles and reduced customs duty levied on electric vehicles, many imported cars stuck in the dry port of Sirsia in Birgunj are expected to get customs clearance.
To increase the internal consumption of electricity and to promote the use of environmentally-friendly means of transportation, the government on Saturday announced to remove excise duty on electric vehicles.
According to Chudamani Sharma, Information Officer at Dry Port Customs Office, not a single electric vehicle has got customs clearance in the last three months.
"However, two-wheeled electric vehicles have received customs clearance in the same time period," he added.
In the last three months, not a single electric vehicle entering Nepal through Birgunj got customs clearance, said Sharma adding that many imported electric vehicles were awaiting customs clearance at Sirsia Dry Port.
The government’s announcement to remove excise duty for electric vehicles is likely to encourage the use of electric vehicles in the country.
During the budget announcement last year, the government had raised the tax on battery-powered cars.
The government later reversed its move, after widespread criticism of the decision in the budget to slap hefty taxes on electric vehicles.
