Bilateral Agreements on International Road Transport BishnuBishnu Om Om BadeBade NepalNepal NEPAL JAPAN CHINA INDIA Thailand GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION Latitude: 26o 22’ North to 30o 27 ’ North Longitude: 80o 04’ East to 88o12’ East Border: East, South & West - India North – China East to West Length : 885 Km (Avg.) North south Breadth : 193 Km (Avg.) Total Coverage Area :1,47,181 Sq. Km. Tilicho Lake, Nepal GEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSIFICATION Three Regions: Mountain, Hilly & Terai (plain) 67% Mountains & hills, 33% plain Elevation Ranges from 90 to 8848m above mean sea level. Highest Peak of the world, the Mt. Everest stands in the Northern Range (Himalaya). Hilly Region, Nepal Trade Corridors (Major) Yari Nechung Rasuwa Kimathanka Olangchungola Dryports/ Inland Clearance Depots under operations Dryport under construction Proposed for future construction Dry Ports (Roadbased) BIRATNAGAR BHAIRAHAWA (World Bank) (World Bank) KAKARBHITTA TATOPANI (ADB) (China) Motor vehicle agreement (MVA) Between the Government of Nepal and the Government of India • Signed at Kathmandu, Nepal on 25 November, 2014. • To explore all Possibilities of expansion and promotion of vehicular traffic between the two countries on the basis of mutual advantage and reciprocity and with a view to strengthening the economic bonds between the two countries on the basis of common interests, for operating passenger traffic between the two countries. • Motor vehicle Agreement (MVA) Articles Form of permit Protocol ◦ Annexures Bus Service Routes KTM – NEW DELHI KTM – VARANASI Transport Routes and Border Crossing Points The transport Routes in MVA: ◦ Kathmandu(Nepal)-New Delhi(India) Via Bhairahawa, Gorakhpur, Lucknow Length= 1200 Km ◦ Kathmandu(Nepal)- Varanasi (India) Via Bhairahawa, Azamgarh Length= 640 Km ◦ Pokhara (Nepal)-New Delhi(India) Via Bhairahawa, Gorakhpur, Lucknow Length= 1000 Km . Border crossing point: Bhairahawa (Nepal) Main Border Crossing points ◦ At south with India (Kakarbhitta, Jogbani, Raxaul, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj) ◦ At north With China (Kodari, Rashwagadhi) PERMIT Requirement of a permit for plying in the territory of the other country: Issuance of a permit for regular passengers transportation to the authorized operator and non-regular passengers transportation by the competent authority of the each country. Permit for regular passenger transportation and private vehicles(custom duty free up to 7 days) Permit for non-regular passenger vehicle (custom duty free up to 30 days) PERMIT continue… Permit to authorized operator: For regular passenger transportation - multiple entries. Valid for one year and renewable every year subject to a maximum period of 5 years. Any deviation from the route - treated as violation of permit condition. Incase of over stay of vehicle An extra charge to be paid to the custom authorities with a valid reason in the destination country at the time of exit. However: The laws of the country would be applicable for a period more than the prescribed time Requirement for vehicle Vehicle - any motor vehicle to be used to transport persons and passengers Both the countries allow passenger and personal vehicles of each country to ply in territory of the other country, subject to the term of the agreement. Regular passenger transportation shall be allowed only through authorized operator(s). Vehicle Insurance Non-regular passengers vehicle insurance by a registered Insurance Company against at least third party loss, in both the countries. Comprehensive insurance policy for regular passenger vehicle . PASSPORT AND VISA The crew shall travel on the basis of valid passports or valid documents of identity. ◦ Other valid documents of identity Citizenship certificate Other for minors e.g. Birth certificate or school identity card Internationally recognized valid travel document as proof of identity for third country passengers Driving License A document of authorization to drive a specified category of vehicles issued by the competent authority of the either country or an internationally recognized permission for driving Institutional arrangement Issuance of a permit to the personal and non-regular passenger vehicles by the following competent authority: Office of district collectors/District Magistrates in India The district Administration officers/Zonal transport officers in Nepal. Diplomatic Missions as also the designated Customs officers or other authorities designated by the respective countries. Other Important Provisions Fees and Charges Restrictions Right to Inspect and search Business Facilitation Applicability of Laws Amendment and Review Mechanism Issues and Challenges Sustainability of transport routes ◦ Business viability, public facilitation, condition of roads Establishment of Joint Transport Facilitation Committee to coordinate, implement and monitor the MVA Future Agreements Bilateral Motor Vehicle Agreement between Nepal and Bangladesh – Plurilateral arrangement to be made SAARC Transport Ministers’ meeting to finalize the draft SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement THANK YOU.