India to shut down camp-office in Nepal on August 1
India yesterday said a camp-office of its embassy in Nepal's Biratnagar will be officially closed from August 1 as per the request made by the Nepalese Government. "All services including issuing of motor-vehicle permits, registration certificates for Indian nationals, attestation of documents, etc., are being rendered by Embassy of India Camp Office, Biratnagar will cease with effect from 1st August 2018," the Embassy said.
People may contact Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for services
The embassy has also called concerned persons to contact Indian Embassy, Kathmandu effective from August 1 for the services rendered by the Biratnagar camp office. During PM Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal in May, the decision was conveyed to Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Office set up after Koshi floods damaged a highway
India was permitted to set up the temporary field office to issue passes to vehicles for plying on Indian roads in the bordering regions after Koshi floods severely damaged a 17km stretch of the East-West Highway in 2008. Initially set up in the eastern Sunsari district, the office was later shifted to Biratnagar, about 375km from Nepal's capital Kathmandu.
Nepal had asked India to shut down camp office
The office, which issued passes to vehicles for plying on Indian roads in the bordering region, outlived its utility after the Nepalese side repaired the damaged stretch of the highway. After a repair of the damaged portion of the highway, Nepal had asked India to shut down the camp office but the Indian side did not comply, according to Nepalese officials.
MEA finally announced the office's shut down in May
On May 22, India's External Affairs Ministry had announced it is winding up the camp office of the Indian embassy as the purpose for which the facility was established has already been fulfilled.
