The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has started repair works at the Liping road in Sindhupalchok. The link was damaged in the Gorkha Earthquake of 2015 and the Bhote Koshi river floods the next year.

The CRCC started the repair after completing reconstruction at the Tatopani-Piplang road. The Liping road that connects the dry port in Larcha is also a part of the Barhabise-Tatopani stretch.

“The road is in a dilapidated condition. We are constructing support pillars,” said a Chinese technician, adding that they plan to complete the works by May next year. “The Chinese government has directed the CRCC to manage the entire physical infrastructure within eight months.”

According to Chinese police personnel, Beijing was ready to open the Tatopani border, which was a major gateway between Nepal and China until the disaster. The Tatopani area has suffered disaster after disaster in recent years. The Bhote Koshi floods of 2016 swept away 261 homes.

A leader of the Chinese police, who has been inspecting works from Khasa to the Miteri bridge, said construction at the 7-kilometre stretch will be over soon. The bridge connects Tatopani in Sindhupalchok with Khasa in Tibet, China.

Locals are hopeful that the border will open soon. Dipendra Kumar Shrestha, a ward chairman in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, said the movement of people has increased in the Tatopani area after construction works started.

The Chinese government started building the Rs1.2 billion dry port in Larcha five years ago. Although the international standard facility was slated to be ready within two-and-a-half years, it was stalled in August 2014 due to the floods and landslides in Jure and the devastating earthquake that followed. CRCC officials said that the Chinese central government has directed them to complete the dry port within three months.

DSP Krishna Gopal Gurung of the Armed Police Force said the local people were supportive of the CRCC team in the project. “High-level officials from China are inspecting the Tatopani area time and again,” said Gurung. The disasters have devastated the once vibrant Tatopani town.