Blasting begins to clear Mahabhir cliff linking Diktel to Tarai

By Rajkumar Bhattarai, Khotang, Feb. 13: Work has begun to blast and clear the Mahabhir cliff, which has been obstructing the shortest road linking the district headquarters Diktel with the eastern Tarai.

The road connection had remained incomplete due to a massive rock at Mahabhir. The work started after the Koshi Province Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development allocated a budget and awarded the contract to remove the rock and complete the road link.

According to Bhupendra Rai, former provincial minister, the ministry allocated Rs. 20 million for the current fiscal year 2025/26. Sitaram Raut, accounts chief at the Infrastructure Development Office, Khotang, said Shree Kamala Construction and Suppliers, Udayapur, secured the contract through a bidding process for Rs. 10.77 million.

The Diktel-Khanidanda-Ahale-Regmitar road is the shortest route from Diktel to the Tarai districts. However, the Mahabhir cliff at Rajapani has been a major obstacle to completing the road. 

Road tracks have already been opened from Diktel to Mahabhir via Khanidanda and Ahale, and from Regmitar on the Diktel-Gaighat section of the Sagarmatha National Highway to Mahabhir.

Due to the large rock at Mahabhir, vehicles have been using an alternative route through the old settlement of Rajapani to reach Regmitar. The direct road has remained largely unused because of the obstruction.

The Khanidanda-Ahale-Regmitar road is around 25 kilometres shorter than the Diktel-Mahure-Buipa-Rajapani-Regmitar route.

Minister Rai said the budget was allocated to complete the track of the shortest possible road connecting the district headquarters to the Tarai. Following completion of the tender process, excavation work has already begun.

Raut said the contract also includes clearing and improving the old road section after blasting the rock at Mahabhir. He added that the shortest route is expected to come into operation from this year.

Once regular transport operates on the Diktel-Khanidanda-Regmitar road, travel to the Tarai will be easier, and the transport of food grains, hardware, fuel and other daily essentials into the district will improve.

Meanwhile, construction of a motorable bridge over the Dikhuwa Khola, which obstructs year-round operation of the road, is also under way. 

Former minister Rai had laid the foundation stone for the bridge during last May/June at the boundary of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality Ward Nos. 4 (Khalle) and 15 (Bijaykharka). Construction work is currently in progress.

The motorable truss bridge over Dikhuwa Khola is being built jointly by the Provincial Road and Bridge Support Unit, Itahari and the Infrastructure Development Office, Khotang, under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development.