Poor progress made in Bhurigaun-Telpani road upgrade project

By Lalit Basel,Surkhet, Dec. 9: It was 56 years ago when the track of the Bhurigaun-Telpani road to connect Surkhet and Bardiya districts was opened. Still, the road has not been upgraded and expanded.  

Neither the federal nor the provincial government has made significant efforts to expand and upgrade the road, which was initially opened as a postal track in 1968.

This route spans 52 kilometres and is a vital link between the Karnali and Lumbini provinces. It is the shortest path to link Lumbini and Karnali with Sudurpasschim Province. However, negligence in its development has caused immense hardship for thousands of residents in Bardiya and Surkhet.

The absence of a bridge over the Bheri River at Ranighat and the road's five-kilometre stretch falling in Bardiya National Park's buffer zone have further hindered its completion.

The provincial government has been allocating funds for this road every year, but progress has been slow. Farmers in Telpani have started repairing an 18-kilometre stretch of the road from Ranighat to Telpani themselves to transport potato seeds via tractors. The local government has not taken responsibility even for its basic maintenance, leaving the task to the residents.

A Telpani farmer,  Bahadur Kadayat, expressed frustration, saying the lack of government interest in upgrading the road even 56 years after its track was opened. He highlighted that the road’s development could expand local markets and significantly reduce travel time to Sudurpashchim Province. 

Currently, people from Surkhet must take a longer route via Kohalpur in Banke to reach Bardiya and Sudurpashchim. If completed, the road will allow people to travel between Surkhet and Bardiya in a single day.

Another local, Purna Bahadur Sinjali Magar, criticised politicians for including the road in their election manifestos but ignoring it after they reach power. The road remains in poor condition, with residents urging the government to prioritise its construction.

Long-standing challenges

Although the road became operational for travel in 1990, significant issues remain unresolved. Govinda Bahadur Hamal, a local expert, revealed that the government began allocating funds for the Bhurigaun-Telpani road in the fiscal year 2007/08. Despite spending Rs. 17.6 million in 2013, the road's condition remains unchanged.

Construction was halted when Bardiya National Park's buffer zone restricted road expansion, but a Supreme Court ruling later allowed to continue the construction. However, delays in cutting trees within the park’s buffer zone and constructing a bridge over the Bheri River have stalled progress.

Priority for Karnali Province

Karnali Province has prioritised the Bhurigaun-Telpani road as an inter-provincial connector since 2018, according to the Infrastructure Development Directorate. Information officer Birendra Jung Shahi said that Rs. 180 million was allocated for this road and three others in the 2019/20 fiscal year, followed by Rs. 390 million the next year.

For upgrading the 18-kilometre of the road, a contract worth Rs. 132.6 million was awarded to Thodung Jagriti JV. However, the construction company has achieved only 10 per cent physical progress due to issues related to Bardiya National Park’s buffer zone and land acquisition disputes.