Bhairahawa, known as the gateway to Lumbini—birthplace of Lord Buddha—has transformed into a bustling hospitality hub following the operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport and the rise of industrial corridors along the Postal Highway. Despite all its progress, the city is grappling with chaotic parking that is choking its streets.

From motorcycles to freight trucks, vehicles are parked indiscriminately across the city, leaving hardly any corner untouched. The situation is especially dire around the Belahiya border point, where traffic congestion is now routine. The under-construction Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Belahiya has further compounded the problem, forcing freight trucks entering from India to park along the main road. The local bus park is itself disorganised, causing buses to spill over into the service lane, blocking pedestrian movement and daily operations.

"We have deployed both traffic police and Nepal police personnel to manage the situation. Compared to before, things are somewhat improved but the issue persists,” said Mukesh Neupane, police inspector at the Area Police Office in Belahiya.

In the core city area, especially in commercial zones like Buddha Chowk, Barmeli Tole, Awaroad, Bank Road and Gallamandi, the chaotic parking is disrupting daily life. Although the western edge of the main road from Barmeli Tol to Miudiya has been designated as a parking lane, the overwhelming number of vehicles has pushed parking onto the streets and even footpaths. With most commercial buildings lacking dedicated parking spaces, vehicles crowd the already narrow roads and alleys.

Hotels and restaurants, which attract significant footfall, also lack proper parking facilities in Bhairahawa and its vicinity. Many establishments simply rely on street parking. Even the newly developed Bhairahawa-Lumbini road segment, stretching from Buddha Chowk to the international airport, suffers from inadequate parking. In this stretch, numerous garages occupy service lanes, turning them into workshops for large buses and trucks, causing further traffic disruption.

Government offices are no exception. Most allow service seekers to park on the streets. “Parking is the most pressing issue Bhairahawa faces today,” said Krishna Prasad Ghimire, general secretary of the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Construction permits for new buildings should only be granted if they include proper parking facilities,” he suggested.

According to Ghimire, Bhairahawa is an old marketplace with limited open land which adds to the problem. "If the old municipal office space is converted into a parking area after shifting to a new building, it could ease the situation significantly," he opined.

The issue is further exacerbated by the absence of land for parking between Devkota Chowk and the airport, a stretch developed as a mixed residential and commercial hub. Although local leaders during the elections pledged to beautify the city, no concrete steps have been taken so far to improve parking management.

A few years ago, an initiative was launched to declare official parking zones in Bhairahawa, but it stalled after traders threatened not to vote for local representatives. Since then, no concrete efforts have been made.

Ranju KC, chief at the District Traffic Police Office in Rupandehi, asserted that without mandating parking spaces in all commercial buildings, the situation will not improve. "For now, we must manage parking by leasing private land if necessary," she said. KC added that current rules allowing parking on only one side of the street are not sufficient, as space constraints lead to overcrowding. She also pointed out that around 600 auto-rickshaws are registered with Siddharthanagar Municipality, and many more enter from surrounding areas.

"Even business owners have nowhere to park their personal vehicles. The lack of designated parking areas means the streets are our only option. If this continues, Bhairahawa will face a parking crisis of even greater magnitude in the near future,” said KC.

In 2022, Siddharthanagar Municipality formed a committee led by Gaurav Shrestha to address the issue within six months. The committee identified 12 possible locations for public parking, including Buddha Chowk, Devkota Chowk behind Siddhartha Finance and Gallamandi. However, protests from the local traders mainly along the Bank Road—concerned about losing customers who come by vehicle—derailed the plan.

“We are also discussing offering building code incentives for developers who include underground parking,” said Istiyak Ahmad Khan, mayor of Siddharthanagar Municipality. He underscored the construction of a multi-storey parking facility at the site of the old municipal office.

Despite being a city of growing economic and tourism significance, Bhairahawa’s development continues to be hindered by one of the most basic urban challenges—parking. Unless urgent action is taken, the city’s progress risks being gridlocked.