KATHMANDU: The government has proposed making Global Positioning System (GPS) devices mandatory for commercial transport vehicles as part of a broader effort to strengthen digital monitoring of cargo transportation across Nepal.
The provision has been included in the Bill to Amend and Repeal Certain Nepal Acts Relating to Finance, which was tabled in the House of Representatives by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle. The bill seeks to amend the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 2052, introducing a web-based transport monitoring system for commercial freight operations.
Under the proposed amendment, commercial transport vehicles including passenger buses, lorries, trucks, mini trucks, containers, tankers, pickups, vans, tractors and other mechanically powered freight vehicles will be required to register and operate through an online transport monitoring platform.
Transport operators carrying goods for commercial purposes must upload shipment details to the web-based system before transportation. They will also be required to carry a printed copy of the goods declaration along with other documents specified by the Inland Revenue Department throughout the transportation period.
The bill further requires owners of transport vehicles registered or to be registered in Nepal to install an active GPS device that complies with standards set by the department. The serial number of the GPS device must also be registered with the department before installation.
However, the proposed legislation allows the department to exempt certain categories of transport vehicles or vehicles operating in specific locations from the GPS requirement under special circumstances.
To ensure compliance, the department will be authorized to regularly monitor whether transport details have been entered into the online tracking system.
The bill also proposes financial penalties for non-compliance. A transport vehicle owner or operator found violating the provisions could face a fine of up to Rs. 50,000 for the first offense and up to Rs. 100,000 for each subsequent offense.
The proposed provisions are yet to become law. The bill must be passed by both houses of the Federal Parliament, receive presidential authentication, and be published in the Nepal Gazette before coming into effect.
