Hulaki Highway in Jhapa deteriorates within a year, locals demand urgent repairs

KATHMANDU: The road section of the Hulaki (Postal) Highway connecting Jhapa Chowk in Bhadrapur to Rajgadh via Jalthal has started deteriorating within a year of completion, causing serious inconvenience to commuters and local residents.

Large potholes have appeared at multiple points along the road, while several bridges and culverts remain incomplete, significantly increasing the risk of accidents, locals said.

According to local resident Netrabikram Bimali, construction work on bridges and culverts, particularly at Bhuteni Khola and Bhusudi Khola in Wards 3, 4, and 5 of Haldibari Rural Municipality, remains unfinished, disrupting smooth traffic flow.

“The road is damaged, and bridges and culverts are not fully completed,” he said. “Daily travel has become risky.”

Locals report a growing number of minor and major accidents due to potholes along the stretch. With the monsoon season approaching, they fear the road condition could worsen further, increasing hazards for travelers.

Chief Administrative Officer of Haldibari Rural Municipality, Man Bahadur Ban, said the local government has repeatedly drawn the attention of the concerned authorities, but no effective repair work has started yet.

“The condition of the road is causing daily hardship for the public,” he said. “Despite repeated requests from the municipality, there has been no adequate response from the project side.”

Ward Chair of Haldibari-4, Sant Kumar Thapa, said the road has begun to deteriorate shortly after completion, raising serious questions about construction quality. He warned that delays in maintenance could lead to further damage and urged concerned authorities to act immediately.

Local resident Pralhad Selwal said even during winter, incomplete bridges and culverts have caused difficulties for locals, not just during the rainy season.

“We expected easier travel after the road was built,” he said. “But now we are forced to travel in even more dangerous conditions.”

Locals have accused the construction process of negligence and demanded strict monitoring, quality assurance, and accountability from responsible agencies. Questions are also being raised about the quality of materials used and the lack of technical supervision during construction.

Meanwhile, Engineer Upendra Das from the Project Office Itahari under the Hulaki Highway Directorate confirmed that the 19.5-kilometre road section from Jhapa Chowk to Rajgadh has not yet been formally handed over by the contractor.

He said the contract was awarded to Ashish Yakthunghang JV, and the project is currently under the “defect liability period,” meaning the construction company is responsible for repairing damaged and defective structures.

Locals continue to demand immediate repair work and stricter oversight to ensure safe and reliable transportation along the highway.