China has agreed to upgrade the 24km Tiptala Bhanjyang-Olangchungola road, a Nepal-China border point in Taplejung district.

According to the Kunla, chief at Dingjie County, the Chinese government has allocated Rs 960 million for the upgradation of the road. Two months ago, Phaktalung Rural Municipality had demanded the county chief to help upgrade the road.

Saroj Aveng, chairman at the rural municipality, said the local unit has also allocated Rs 4.3 million for the road upgradation.

In 2017, the dirt track from Olangchungola, the nearest market from the border point, to Tiptala Bhanjyang was upgraded into a road stretch with the workforce and equipment provided by the Chinese government.

Chheten Walung, the spokesperson of the rural municipality, said vehicular movement along the road stretch will ease further after the road upgradation.

“As the road gets obstructed by landslides and flooding during monsoon, it’s necessary to upgrade the road,” Walung said.

The residents of Olangchungola, Yangma and Tokpegola in Ghunsa Papung transport daily essentials, including rice, salt and oil, from Riu bazaar in Tibet. They bring in herbs and carpets on their return journey.

Nupu Walung Sherpa of Olanguchungola said the villagers, until a few years ago, had to walk an entire day to reach the Chinese border from Olangchungola.

“We have heard that the Chinese government is going to upgrade the road. We are happy with the news,” Sherpa said.