Citizens travel amid uncertainty: When will blocked roads reopen?

KATHMANDU: This year’s Dashain festival, one of Nepal’s most significant celebrations, is being observed starting from Oct 10 (Ashoj 26). The festivities commenced with Ghatasthapana, marking the beginning of the 15-day-long celebration.

As Dashain begins, the exodus from the Kathmandu Valley has started, with a massive number of people returning to their hometowns to celebrate with their families.

The number of passengers at bus parks in the valley has been increasing daily. Since the government opened advance ticket bookings for Dashain and Tihar travel on Sept 28 (Ashoj 12), bus parks have seen a surge in travelers trying to secure tickets home.

However, due to the heavy rains and resulting floods and landslides on Sept 27 and 28 (Ashoj 11 and 12), several major highways across the country have been blocked.

Despite this, many citizens are braving the risks and uncertainties, determined to make it home for the holiday. They remain hopeful that the roads will be cleared soon, making their journey smoother.

Nearly Half a Million Leave the Valley for Dashain

The number of people leaving Kathmandu has continued to rise as the festival approaches. According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, over 446,000 people have already left the valley as of Monday morning. DSP Rabin Karki told Makalu Khabar that citizens have been traveling via buses, trucks, motorcycles, and other means of transport to return to their home districts.

Due to the road blockages caused by the floods and landslides, the number of people leaving the valley was initially lower. DSP Karki mentioned that the mass departure only started after Sept 30 (Ashoj 14), when the situation began to improve.

Roads Still Blocked, Ministry Says Unlikely to Reopen Before Dashain

Despite the growing pressure, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has stated that it is unlikely to reopen all the blocked roads before Dashain. The ministry confirmed that the BP Highway, along with other major roads such as the Araniko Highway and sections of the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Phakel-Sisneri-Dakshinkali route, remains closed. Other roads, such as the Kanti Highway and the Barhabise-Tatopani section, are still obstructed as well.

The Nepal Police reports that roads across Bagmati, Koshi, and Lumbini provinces, including in the Kathmandu Valley, have been affected by the recent floods and landslides. While some roads have already been cleared, efforts to reopen the remaining blocked routes are still ongoing.

Infrastructure Damage and Cost

The continuous rainfall has caused an estimated Rs 25 billion in damage to road infrastructure. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure reports that at least NRs 3 billion is required to temporarily restore road and bridge networks for basic transportation. Meanwhile, the estimated cost for permanent restoration and rebuilding of all damaged infrastructure could range from Rs 20 billion to Rs 25 billion.

Despite these challenges, citizens remain hopeful for a swift resolution, as Dashain is a time for family reunions and celebrations across Nepal.