CHITWAN: The Chepang road connecting Bhandara in Chitwan with Malekhu in Dhading has been partially reopened after a landslide blocked traffic along the route.
The 66-kilometre road, which links the two districts through the hilly areas along the East-West Highway, was obstructed by a landslide at Beldanda in Rapti Municipality-11. Landslides at other locations, along with the poor condition of the road, have also prevented the route from operating fully up to Malekhu.
The road construction project, which was included in the government’s budget speech in 2066 BS, has been under construction for years. Over the past four to five days, landslides have made travel particularly difficult, forcing local residents to navigate steep and risky sections of the road.
On Tuesday, a team led by Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal, which was travelling to Kalitar, a remote area of Rapti Municipality, to distribute citizenship certificates, was also stopped by the landslide.
Rapti Municipality-13 Ward Chairperson Ashok Kumar Praja, who requested that the road be cleared, said repeated appeals to the authorities had not produced a response. The citizenship distribution team was subsequently forced to cross the landslide-affected section at considerable risk.
Praja said residents have been facing severe difficulties because of the poor road conditions and landslides along the route.
“Due to the poor condition of the road, we have to transport our belongings in Bolero vehicles, while in some places even walking is difficult,” he said.
He added that local residents also urged the chief district officer to take measures to improve the road. The road has been partially reopened since Wednesday, according to Praja.
On Tuesday, the District Administration Office, Chitwan, travelled by Bolero vehicle to Kalitar in Rapti Municipality-13 and Yauralitar in Ward No. 12 despite the landslides and poor road conditions at several locations. The team distributed citizenship certificates to local residents, while officials from the District Election Office collected details required for voter registration.
Once fully operational, the Chepang road could serve as an alternative route to the Narayangadh–Muglin road section, particularly during disruptions caused by landslides such as the one at Krishnabhir.
Comment