Travel on the Chhinchu-Jajarkot road remaining as the major entrance to the district headquarters Khalanga is risky as it is in bad condition, increasing the risk of accidents.
Some two years ago, the road developed two wide pits near the Pasagad River at Bheri municipality-11.
The volume of such pits is gradually expanding, making the travel very troublesome and risky as well, but the situation has not caught the attention of any the responsible bodies - the Road Division Office, the district representatives and other stakeholders concerned. The potholes are so big that even a buffalo can enjoy bath in them.
The blacktopped segment from Matela-Bohara-Shantichautara to Thantibazaar has been badly damaged, said one Ram Bahadur Rana of Bheri municipality-1. Not only at Pasagad, but also in the segment stretching from Chhedachaur Bazar to the district headquarters Khalanga is exposing multiple numbers of pits ranging from big to small on its surface, making the riding really difficult and riskier, said local transport entrepreneur Kali Bahadur Khatri.
His concern is that the situation is not unknown to political leaders and those holding senior posts in bureaucracy who use the route frequently but do not (ironically) notice the wretched situation of the roadway. The problem is as it is.
When contacted, Bheri municipality mayor Chandra Prakash Gharti pledged to immediately visit the Road Division Office to talk about the issue. “He said the local government is all committed to upgrading the road.”
Locals complained that people’s representatives showed no concern towards the violation of construction criteria by the Department of Roads and contractors. Road Division Office, Chaurjahari officiating chief Kushal Bhusal said he was officially not informed about the situation, however, expressing his readiness to take all sorts of possible measures to restore the damaged road segments.
