Vehicular operation from Taplejung to Tiptala border begins

BY CHANDRA PANDAK

Taplejung, Jan. 17: Vehicles with Nepali number plates have reached Tiptala, bordering the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China following the repair of the Tamor Corridor. 

Nepali vehicles, including passenger jeeps and tractors, are now travelling from the district headquarters of Taplejung, Phungling, to the Tiptala border via Olangchung Gola. The road, which was damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season, has been repaired.

According to a local, Tenzing Walung, from Olangchung Gola, people travelling to the Tiptala area can now reach the border by car. He said that repairs had been made to sections of the road affected by floods and landslides, particularly in the areas like Lelep in Ward No. 6 and Olangchung Gola settlement in Ward No. 7 of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality. 

These damaged sections have been restored, including pothole filling and the installation of Hume pipes in the areas with rivers and streams, making the road suitable for vehicular movement.

With the road now accessible to vehicles, the round trip from Phungling to Tiptala can be completed within three days. Recently, a team of businessmen from Phungling made the journey to Tiptala by vehicle and returned in three days. The team, led by Narayan Thapa, president of the Taplejung Chamber of Commerce, travelled from Phungling to Tiptala and back.

According to Thapa, the journey from Phungling to Olangchung Gola can be completed in one day, and the following day, they can reach Tiptala and then return to Olangchung Gola. The team that visited Tiptala returned to Phungling from Olangchung Gola on the third day. Thapa said that, apart from some issues, travelling by vehicle from Phungling to Tiptala is relatively easy.

Ward Chairman Chheten Sherpa stated that if motorable bridges are constructed across the Tamor River in Sukepani, Jongin and Phedi areas under the Olangchung Gola section, vehicles will be able to reach Tiptala even during the monsoon season. According to Sherpa, until such bridges are built, vehicles can operate only during the winter.

Phaktanglung Rural Municipality Chairman Rajan Limbu (Mukti) said that a tender had already been issued for the construction of a Bailey Bridge in Sukepani. He emphasised the need to build motorable bridges across the Tamor River in Jongin and Olangchung Gola settlements and to properly place Hume pipes in certain areas above those places. Limbu believes that once the Tamor Corridor connecting to Tiptala is fully operational, it will promote the growth of both domestic and international tourism, benefiting the region.

Earlier, during a cross-border security meeting between the government of Tibet and security officials from Taplejung in mid-December last year, the Tibetan government expressed willingness to pave the road from Tiptala to Phungling.

According to Taplejung Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma, Tibet has agreed to pave the road if a proposal is made by the Nepal government through a government-to-government (G2G) process. Sharma also said that the details of the meeting held with Tibet have been reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs.