Road expansion delays cripple hospitality business

By Bomlal Giri,Nawalpur, Jan. 25: The delay being made in the expansion of the Narayangadh–Butwal road section has severely affected the tourism and hotel industries in Nawalpur. 

Local tourism and hotel entrepreneurs have expressed frustration over worsening travel conditions, which have significantly deterred tourist visits.

“The tourism sector is experiencing more excruciating pain than the cancer patients in their final moments,” lamented Santosh Rana Magar, President of the District Hotel Entrepreneurs Association. “We have borne the brunt of these road issues,” he added.

According to Magar, over half of the hotels in the district have shut down since the road expansion project began.

“There were approximately 1,600 hotels in the district before the road expansion project began, but now only around 700 are operational,” 

he informed. “About 900 businesses have been displaced, causing losses not only to entrepreneurs but also to the state,” he said. 

Negligence during road expansion in Daunne led to the destruction of six hotels operating since 1980, with no compensation provided, Rana added. 

Poor road conditions, including potholes and muddy stretches, have discouraged domestic and international tourists from using the route.

Phansram Mahato, Chairperson of the Nawalpur Tourism Committee, informed that tourism, which had begun recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic, has declined again due to road-related issues. “Although Nawalpur is an attractive tourist destination, the poor condition of the roads has become a major obstacle,” he said. 

Mahato pointed out that tourists mainly come from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Butwal, but the poor road conditions have halved their numbers.

The major attractions of Nawalpur, including jungle safaris, wildlife observation, rural settings and Tharu culture continue to draw interest. 

While similar experiences are available in Chitwan’s Sauraha, Mahato emphasised that Nawalpur offers an authentic village experience that distinguishes it from Sauraha.

Dhaniram Gurau, President of the Homestay Federation, Gandaki and Patron of the Nawalpur Tourism Committee, said that the hotel and tourism sectors were facing unprecedented challenges.  “Not even during the earthquake or COVID-19 did we suffer this much,” Gurau said. 

“Tourist arrivals have dropped significantly compared to last year. Road conditions are the primary reason, compounded by the economic recession,” he added. 

According to the Nawalpur Tourism Committee, six homestays in Kawasoti Municipality welcomed about 34,000 domestic and international tourists last fiscal year. However, only about 1,600 tourists have visited them this fiscal year, even as the peak season nears its end. No exact figures are available for tourist arrivals across the district, noted Magar.

The Narayangadh–Butwal road section, initially slated for completion by August 7, 2022, has seen only 54 per cent progress, with five months remaining before the third extended 

deadline expires. Negligence on the part of China State Construction Corporation Limited has prolonged the work, causing travellers to endure six hours of travel on a stretch that previously took just two hours.

The ongoing delays in road construction, combined with rising economic challenges, continue to harm Nawalpur’s tourism and hotel industries, leaving businesses and locals struggling to adapt.