2 October, Sankhuvasabha. A landslide with huge rocks that fell in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-2 Chumsur under the Khandbari-Kimathanka road section of Sankhuwasabha has been removed using explosives. After the landslide was removed, one-way traffic has been started on the road up to Kimathangka border crossing with China.
According to Ram Bahadur Gurung, head of the North-South Koshi road project, the Nepalese army removed a landslide with huge rocks by blasting it on Sunday. Due to the large size of the rock, it was not possible to remove it using normal equipment, so the road project requested the Nepali Army.
Gurung said that with the help of the technical team of the Nepali Army and Road Office, the blocked road was cleared and put into operation. After the opening of the road, it has become easier for passengers going home to celebrate the festival, local residents and vehicles transporting goods.
In Chumsur last July, the road was blocked due to landslides and large rocks that fell with heavy rains. Due to the road blockage for a long time, there was a problem in the daily movement of the northern region, transportation of essential materials including food and local activities. It took time to open the road as explosives had to be used to remove the huge rocks.
According to the Road Planning Office, traffic is being operated in other sections with regular maintenance. However, due to the risk of landslides and large rock falls during the rainy season, traffic operation on the Khandbari-Kimathanka road is becoming challenging. Since the road has to be built through a geographically difficult and hard rocky area, road expansion and maintenance work in this area is difficult.
Handing over the road section constructed by the army
The total length of Khandbari-Kimathanka road is 162 km. Out of this, 10.8 km of road construction was entrusted to the Nepali Army. Due to the hard rocks and difficult terrain, the army completed the construction of the road section by transporting construction materials by helicopter. The army has already handed over the completed road section last May.
According to the North-South Koshi Road Project Office, 623.6 million 67 thousand rupees have been spent on the construction of the Khandbari-Kimathanka road so far.
This road is a project of strategic importance to connect the northern border area of Koshi province with the road network. After the opening of the Kimathangka border crossing with China, it is expected that traffic and business activities in the northern region will expand.
The Kimathangka-Jogbani road section is considered as a short route connecting China and India. After this road is fully operational, it is expected to directly benefit the residents of Sankhuwasabha, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa and Bhojpur districts of Koshi province. It is believed that it will help in cross-border trade, transportation and regional economic activities.
