An ongoing road upgrade work in Bardaghat of Nawalparasi West has the potential to offer an alternative to the Daunne section of the East-West highway and reduce traffic congestion.

A 14-km dirt road connecting Bardaghat Municipality of Lumbini Province and Dumkibas of Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality of Gandaki Province is the proposed alternative to the Daunne section (Bardaghat-Dumkibas) of the East-West highway.

The operation of the road section is expected to reduce hours-long traffic jams on the Butwal-Narayanghat section’s Daunne stretch, which is usually in poor condition due to frequent landslides.

The blacktopping work kicked off a month ago. The aim is to upgrade the road section to an access road to connect Bardaghat Municipality’s hilly areas with ward 10 of the municipality.

The mountain roads are prone to accidents and landslides during the rainy season and dry landslides in the winter. For years, due to the risk of traffic jams and accidents, the locals, transport operators, and even passengers have been demanding an alternative route to the Daunne section of the East-West highway.

Shambhulal Shrestha, mayor of Bardaghat Municipality, said that the plan is to upgrade a four-kilometer section of the 14-km stretch in the current fiscal year.

This stretch was constructed a few years ago as a dirt road to connect the residents of the Bikat Patuke settlement of Bardaghat Municipality with the administrative office of the municipality.

“It was difficult for the residents of the municipality to reach the administrative centre, plus having an alternative route to the Daunne section has become imperative. After the upgrade, this road is going to be a fast-track road connecting Lumbini and Gandaki provinces,” said Shrestha.

According to Shrestha, Rs50 million has been allocated for the four-kilometre section, which will connect Simsar in ward 10 of Bardaghat Municipality with Sansarkot, the hilly area in ward 2 of the municipality. “The contract for the work has been awarded to Surke Construction Company for Rs 36.2 million,” he said.

After the upgrade, the municipality plans to set up a marketplace for the food and products produced in the hilly areas as the local producers will have improved access to transport services. The municipality also intends to promote the hilly areas as a tourist destination.

Lal Bahadur Magar, a resident of ward 10 of Bardaghat, said that the upgrade of the road section means they can now sell their produce in the other markets.

“In the absence of an operational road, it was very difficult even to reach the administration centre of the municipality. But now that the upgrade work is underway, we are hopeful for the new ventures it will bring,” said Magar. “The road section will open doors for us to sell the local crops, livestock, and other cottage industry products.”

The road upgrade will provide an alternative, minimising accidents and traffic jams on the Daunne section,” says Magar. “This also provides access for travellers when the Daunne section is closed or disrupted by a landslide,” he added.

According to Kamal Thapa, coordinator of Surke Construction Company, the work of clearing and cleaning the dirt road along with the construction of canals is underway from ward 10 to ward 2 of the Bardaghat Municipality.