Authorities have resumed one-way traffic for light vehicles along the Syaphrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road, 13 days after flooding from the Bhotekoshi River severely damaged the route connecting to the Nepal-China border.

Around one kilometre of the road was washed away, cutting off a 16-kilometre stretch from Syaphrubesi to Rasuwagadhi. The disruption severed road access between Timure and Rasuwagadhi, halting even emergency transport and food supply deliveries.

Shubharaj Neupane, chief of the Road Supervision and Monitoring Office, said traffic for light vehicles resumed on Sunday. “We initially aimed to open the road by Friday, but complications at Lingling landslide area forced us to work 50 metres down a cliff, close to the Bhotekoshi,” he said. “A temporary track built by cutting into the slope was washed away, so we had to drill through rock to create a new path. It took two more days.”

Heavy vehicles remain barred as road repair continues. Neupane said detailed studies will determine how to allow freight transport in the second phase.

“We hope to complete major works before the Miteri Bridge reopens,” he added. The flood washed away the bridge that linked Nepal and China on July 8.

The 16-kilometre road segment is being upgraded with Chinese grant assistance, but construction has progressed slowly. “It was expected to take over a month to restore the road, but we’ve managed to reopen it earlier,” Neupane said.

Discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Department of Roads to finalise the second phase of reconstruction.

“With the festival season approaching, we need this route to transport goods from the border,” he said. “There’s no clarity yet on whether China or Nepal will carry out the main road work. A decision will come soon.”

Bijay Jaishi, director general of the Department of Roads, said the contract for the Syaphrubesi–Rasuwagadhi section was awarded in 2019 under a Chinese grant.

“Work was delayed due to Covid-19, and now the road restoration is again under China’s purview,” he said. “Out of the 16 kilometres, only three kilometres from Syaphrubesi and four kilometres from Timure had remained passable after the floods. Nine kilometres were either washed away or badly damaged.”

With the road reopened, locals say delivery of daily essentials has resumed. “We had some food reserves, but another week of closure would have been a crisis,” said Kaysang Nurpu Tamang, chair of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality.

The Bhotekoshi flood on July 8 had cut off road access to Timure, halting cross-border trade. Rasuwagadhi customs point remains quiet with imports and exports suspended.

According to Jaishi, China has expressed willingness to construct a temporary Bailey bridge across the damaged Miteri Bridge within two months. The second phase of road restoration is expected to be completed in the same period.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal met Chinese Ambassador Chen Song last Thursday and requested China to expedite reconstruction of both the damaged road and the Miteri Bridge.

Ministry secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma said that China has committed to completing a temporary bridge before the Dashain festival. “China also indicated it would begin design work for a permanent bridge soon,” he said.

Sharma said that the road and customs point would be restored in time to facilitate trade during Dashain. However, flooding from the Lhende River also damaged a 25-kilometre stretch between Rasuwagadhi and Kerung, further impacting trade. The Miteri Bridge collapse disrupted the cross-border movement of around 100 freight trucks daily.