Speaker Sapkota, Finance Minister Sharma inspect Araniko highway

Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and Finance Minister Janardan Sharma 'Prabhakar' today made an on-site inspection of the Araniko highway from Bahrabise to the Miteri Pul (Friendship Bridge) at Nepal-China border transit in Sindhupalchowk district.

On the occasion, they also took stock of the present situation of the highway on this section. Speaker Sapkota and Minister Sharma also inspected the settlement at Jambu which was buried by a flood and landslide that took place on the night of July 8, 2020. They also observed the damaged road, bridge, and the affected area. They then inspected the Eco area, the Liping Bridge destroyed by the flood, and the Nepal-China border area Miteri Pul.

The Speaker and Finance Minister were accompanied by the Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Rabindranath Shrestha and other government officials, political party leaders, the Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk, the chiefs of the district-based security bodies, people's representatives including the Chairperson of Bhotekosi rural municipality, industrialists, businesspersons and the locals.

In course of the observation, they acquired information on the damage caused by the earthquake and a series of flooding and landslide since some years back, the poor condition of the road, and the status of the existing import and export through the Tatopani transit point.

Following the inspection, Speaker Sapkota and Finance Minister Sharma participated in the discussions programme on road infrastructure and trade and commerce organised at the Tatopani Customs Office.

On the occasion, the Speaker underscored the need of carrying out development works including the repair and reconstruction of the Bahrabise-Tatopani road as a multi-year project. He suggested preparing the short-term, long-term, and immediate outline for the same.

Stating that the Tatopani transit point carrying historical significance in Nepal-China relations and also called the Janti Marga (the wedding procession route) is incomparable to other transit points, he said the State can take huge benefit with the development and rebuilding of the infrastructures in this area.

The Speaker said that earthquakes, floods, and landslides disasters were posing challenges in the smooth operation of the Bahrabise-Tatopani road. He said discussions were being held with the Chinese officials for facilitating the imports and exports through the border transit, expressing the hope that they would be further facilitated very soon. He also expressed the confidence that works would be forwarded for improving the road in a result-oriented manner as per the government's commitment.

Finance Minister Sharma said the government would pursue works for road strengthening and managing transit. He directed the secretaries at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to carry ahead the road construction works in the area in a coordinated way.

The discussions in which the Director-General of the Department of Customs also participated focused on the systematic repair and reconstruction of the Bahrabise-Tatopani section of the Araniko highway damaged due to the earthquake, flooding, and landslide, and on the smooth operation of the transit point.