Process to open Dumkibas-Triveni border crossing moves forward

By Bomlal Giri

Nawalpur, Mar. 13: Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey has said that the process of opening the Dumkibas-Triveni border crossing under the Postal Highway in Nawalpur has moved forward. 

He made this remark during a press conference organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Nawalpur, on Wednesday while attending the inauguration of Madhyabindu Provincial Hospital.

Chief Minister Pandey mentioned that due to the closure of the eight-kilometre stretch, residents of Triveni are forced to travel nearly 60 kilometres around the route. He assured that the provincial government is positive about opening the border immediately and that the process has already begun.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has granted approval for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and after its completion, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared, he said. 

Acknowledging that the entire process of opening the road will take time, he also mentioned that efforts are underway to clear the road and allow light vehicles to operate in the meantime. 

For this, a decision has been made by the provincial cabinet and forwarded to the federal government, according to Chief Minister Pandey.

“We have discussed with the Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and the Director General of the Department and decided through the provincial cabinet to facilitate the process.”

“We have sent the file to the federal cabinet. Perhaps the government is studying it, and we expect a decision soon,” the Chief Minister said. 

Although it falls under the Postal Highway, Chief Minister Pandey stated that it is of great importance to the province, and efforts would be made to bring it under provincial jurisdiction. 

He further mentioned that he has raised this issue multiple times in meetings of the National Development Problem-Solving Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, as well as in personal discussions with the Prime Minister and other stakeholders.

The construction of this road section began in 2005, and the track was completed in 2006. 

In March 2006, light vehicles operated on this 20-kilometre road section for about a week.  However, due to a lack of further construction, vehicle movement was halted, and rain and landslides gradually eroded the eight-kilometre stretch, making it almost unrecognisable.

The road, recognised as part of the Postal Highway, was initially constructed under the leadership of Gajendra Moksha Dham’s Peethadhish Kamalnayan Acharya, with participation from representatives of political parties and locals of 14 Village Development Committees existing then. 

However, as the road has not been developed further, the locals have grown increasingly concerned. They have even urged to be incorporated into Lumbini Province, warning of protests demanding a change in provincial affiliation if the road is not opened.