The Rajbiraj Customs Office in Saptari has collected only 18.51 percent of its annual revenue target in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The office had set an annual target of Rs81.715 million.

Against monthly targets, the office collected 59.9 percent from mid-July to mid-August and 59.3 percent from mid-August to mid-September. Collection improved from mid-September to mid-October, reaching 103.44 percent of the monthly target. The monthly targets were Rs6.673 million for mid-July to mid-August, Rs6.846 million for mid-August to mid-September, and Rs6.852 million for mid-September to mid-October.

Vijaykumar Sah, information officer at the customs, said poor road conditions hindering transport, large traders avoiding the checkpoint, and lack of quarantine contributed to low revenue collection.

“Smuggling has also affected collection,” he said. “Though we achieved 103.44 percent of the target in September–October, manpower shortages prevent us from responding promptly even when we receive intelligence.”

He added that controlling smuggling has been difficult after the Gen Z movement. Last year, the office set a target of Rs80.8179 million but collected only 89.99 percent (Rs 72.294 million).