BHOJPUR: The operation of boats between Kopche and Barahakshetra in Hatuwagadhi Rural Municipality-9 of Bhojpur has made travel easier for local residents.
The water service has shortened the distance between settlements in the southern region and major cities of the Terai, including Dharan, Itahari and Biratnagar.
For years, locals had faced difficulties in transportation due to the absence of bridges over major rivers such as the Arun and Dudhkoshi. With the introduction of boat services on the Arun River, daily travel has now become more convenient.
Local resident Indra Thapa said the boat service has made it possible for people to reach the cities of the Terai and return home on the same day. Previously, travelers had to walk three to four hours along steep trails to reach Chatara, but the same distance of about 19 kilometers can now be covered in 20 to 25 minutes by water.
“The operation of boats has brought great relief to residents of the southern region,” Thapa said. “Due to the lack of bridges, traveling by road was difficult. Now people can travel to and from the Terai cities in a single day through the waterway.”
The fare for a boat trip to the Barahakshetra area is Rs 500. Another local, Milan Rai, said the introduction of water jet boats on the Arun River has also made it easier to quickly transport patients to major hospitals in the Terai.
He noted that residents previously had to travel nearly 200 kilometers from Hatuwagadhi to the Bhojpur district headquarters via Leguwa–Hile–Dhankuta before reaching the Terai.
“For residents of the southern region, the journey through the district headquarters was very long,” Rai said. “Now, when someone falls ill, they can quickly reach the city for treatment. This has directly benefited the local community.”
According to Hatuwagadhi Rural Municipality, the boat service has helped improve connectivity between Bhojpur, Dhankuta and Sunsari with the eastern Terai. Rural Municipality Chairperson Prem Kumar Rai said the local government is also working to develop tourism infrastructure by linking rafting and river-based activities with tourism.
Chairperson Rai said the shorter distance between Hatuwagadhi and the Terai districts could support the area’s development. “The operation of water jet boats has made transportation much easier for residents,” he said.
“Vehicle movement has been difficult due to delays in constructing bridges over major rivers such as the Arun and Dudhkoshi. We are moving forward by linking rafting activities with tourism development.”
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