A fast track connecting Ilam Bazar to tarai has been opened. The project on the construction of 10-kilometer new route from Golakharka Bhanjyang to Belase via Bhangtar and Rakase has been complete, reducing the distance to reach Birtamod of Jhapa from here by 39 kilometers.
People have now an option to the existing 86-kilometer route to reach Birtamod via Mechi Highway. Now, Birtamod is reachable from here via a shorter route measuring 47 kilometers and it takes an hour travel against about three hours in the past.
The project was implemented under the Infrastructure Development Program last year and it cost about Rs 1.5 million received under the program and 250,000 provided by the District Coordination Committee. Under the Strategic Road Plan, Rs 10 million has been allocated to further upgrade the route, said Ilam municipality mayor Mahesh Basnet.