TAPLEJUNG, Oct 3: The Tamor Corridor (Chatara-Mulghat-Subhangkhola) Road Project Office has planned to resume traffic movement to Ganesh Chowk, Panchthar by constructing a temporary diversion as soon as the water level in the Nawa Khola recedes.
Pradeep Niraula, head of the Road Project Office, said that hump pipes have arrived for temporary diversion and the diversion work will begin in Nawa Khola after the water flow in the river decreases. Niraula said, “The main problem is in Nawa Khola; we are moving forward with the plan to operate large vehicles to reach Ganesh Chowk via the Tamor Corridor .”
Niraula said that all preparations have been made to begin construction of the temporary diversion. He said that the road project office has also prepared the necessary construction equipment. The road leading to Majhitar, Phidim Municipality-4, via Jorshal, Panchthar, was washed away by a flood, causing the road blockage.
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There is no particular problem for heading to and from Taplejung, after the vehicle reaches near Ganesh Chowk in Panchthar. Vehicular movement on the Taplejung-Panchthar road section along the Mechi highway has been halted after the Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola, Panchthar, was swept away by the flood. One-way traffic has resumed since Wednesday afternoon after clearing the landslides debris in Ramite along the Mechi Highway.
Pawan Bhattarai, head of the Road Division Office, Ilam, said that small vehicles can now travel via the Mechi Highway from Birtamod, Jhapa to Phidim, Panchthar, if there are no further landslides. Bhattarai said that it will take some time for the road to be fully operational. Bishnu Prasad Koirala, chief district officer of Panchthar, said that although one-way traffic of small vehicles has resumed after clearing the landslide debris in Ramite, it is not possible to operate large vehicles immediately on that route.
He said that the plan has been advanced by adopting three-phase options for transportation over Hewa Khola. He said that the plan for transporting people and motorcycles by constructing a Phadke bridge (a makeshift bridge made of bamboo) has reached its final stages. Currently, the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents are working together for constructing a Phadke bridge in Phidim, Panchthar.
Bimal Raut, a soldier of the Ransher Battalion of the Nepali Army in Phidim, said that the work has progressed to enable crossing through the Phadke bridge from Thursday afternoon. According to him, the Phadke bridge of four feet width and 53 meters length is being constructed. After the Phadke bridge comes into operation, passengers heading towards Taplejung will be able to reach Taplejung.
Panchthar CDO Koirala said the second option is to construct a temporary diversion in Hewa Khola with work set to begin after the water level decreases. “Following that, coordination is underway with the road office to advance the plan for constructing a Bailey bridge,” added Koirala.
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