The immigration office in Phuentshogling has collected over Nu 30 M from user fees levied upon entering and exiting the pedestrian terminal until the end of March. The user fee of Nu 10 was introduced in November of last year.
The pedestrian terminal in Phuentshogling was inaugurated on September 23 last year to regulate people, including foreigners coming in and going out as per the border management and border control norms and requirements.
Immigration officials in Phuentshogling said the Nu 10 user fee was introduced to meet the expenses of the terminal like electricity bills, staff salary, and maintenance of the terminal.
“That was basically to facilitate self-sustaining operation and management of the terminal. So, the fees that we collect are mostly spent on the operation and management of the terminal,” said Jigme Tenzin, the regional director of the Department of Immigration.
So far, more than Nu 3 M has been spent on the operation and management of the terminal from the total collected amount.
However, with the government waiving off the user fee while exiting the terminal since the 14th of April, the collection amount henceforth is expected to be halved. Officials said it would be enough to meet the expenses at the terminal.
Going by the immigration numbers, over 20,000 people enter and exit the Phuentshogling pedestrian terminal, every day.
Kinley Dem, Phuentshogling
Edited by Sherub Dorji
