चेपाङ मार्ग
Narayangadh (Chitwan), October 1
The Chepang Highway, a 66-kilometer road connecting Bhandara in Chitwan along the East-West Highway to Malekhu in Dhading, has been obstructed due to landslides. The blockage occurred primarily at Beldanda in Rapti Municipality–11, causing severe travel difficulties along this key passage connecting two districts and two major highways.
Landslides over the past four to five days have forced local residents to risk their lives traveling along perilous cliffside tracks. The road project, which was included in the fiscal budget of 2009/10, remains only partially operational up to Malekhu due to multiple landslides and poor road conditions.
On Tuesday, an administrative team led by Chief District Officer (CDO) Ganesh Aryal was stranded while en route to distribute citizenship certificates in Kalitar, a remote area of Rapti Municipality. Ashok Kumar Praja, Ward Chairperson of Rapti Municipality–13, urged CDO Aryal at the site to intervene and reopen the road, noting that previous requests had gone unheeded. The mobile distribution team was ultimately forced to cross the landslide zone at great risk.
“Due to the poor condition of the road, we have to transfer goods between vehicles, and in some places, even walking on foot is barely possible,” Ward Chair Praja stated, highlighting the severe hardships faced by locals.
Ward Chair Praja confirmed that as of Wednesday, traffic along the highway has partially resumed. Despite the disruptions, the Chitwan District Administration Office successfully reached Kalitar (Ward 13) and Yauralitar (Ward 12) via Mahindra Bolero vehicles to issue citizenship certificates, while a team from the District Election Office collected voter registration details.
Once fully operational, the Chepang Highway is expected to serve as a vital alternative route to the landslide-prone Narayangadh–Muglin road section and the Krishnabhir stretch.
— RSS
