Poor Jajarkot roads put commuters at risk

By Basudev Sharma,Jajarkot, Mar. 24: Travel in rural parts of Jajarkot district has become increasingly hazardous due to the failure to upgrade the roads. Although local governments allocate a budget annually for road improvement, they are rarely upgraded, and journeys along them remain consistently risky. 

Roads built to link settlements across seven local levels have not been upgraded, resulting in poor conditions and considerable inconveniences for public. In geographically remote and rugged areas, these roads were intended to ease mobility, yet their deteriorating state has only compounded difficulties to locals. 

Residents of Junichande and Barekot Rural Municipalities, located 84 km from the district headquarters, are compelled to travel on roads in dangerous conditions due to a lack of timely repairs. Kaman Thapa of Kushe Rural Municipality-5 said that negligence on the part of local and provincial governments, as well as the Road Division Office, has forced people to endure unnecessary suffering. Although work to upgrade the road from Gairikhali in Bheri Municipality-4 to Panchkatiya began nearly a decade ago, progress has been quite slow.

Repairs works are hardly completed in time due to delays caused by concerned authorities and negligence by contractors. Even several sections of roads that have been blacktopped have developed potholes within a year due to poor construction quality.

According to locals, a lack of accountability among stakeholders and carelessness on the part of contractors have resulted in substandard work. While local governments have expanded road access to villages, absence of proper upgrading has hindered the marketing of local products and increased difficulties in commuting.

Villagers complained that they are forced to pay high fares and take risks while travelling. Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, their concerns have gone unheard.

Birendra Bahadur Shahi, Vice-Chairperson of Junichande Rural Municipality, said the local government lacks sufficient funds for road upgrade and has repeatedly requested financial support from provincial and federal governments, but to no avail.

The lack of road improvements has made it difficult to access remote settlements. Travelling from Dhaiya in Chhedagad Municipality-5 to the administrative centre of Junichande remains risky. Landslides and potholes along the road from Ward No. 1 office to the administrative centre have not been properly managed, further complicating travel.

Locals in villages such as Luhadah, Kortang and Juni continue to face daily hardships. Although some landslides blocking roads are cleared during festival periods, the lack of full repairs means the problems persist, leaving residents to endure ongoing difficulties.