The operation of jet boat service in the Arun River has made travel to Tarai districts easier for the people of southern region of Bhojpur district.
Travelling by road to various Tarai districts from Bhojpur was difficult before this due to the lack of bridges over big rivers like Arun and Dudhkoshi. But this problem has been addressed with the operation of jet boat service daily from Kopche of Hatuwagadhi-9, except during the monsoon period.
Indra Thapa, a local, said people can now travel to places like Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar and other places and return to their home by jet boat. According to him, operation of jet boat has made travel easier. When there was no jet boat transport available, people had to walk on the route through cliff for three to four hours to reach Chatara.
Thapa said the 19 kilometres distance up to Chatara is covered in 20 to 25 minutes by jet boat travel. "The operation of jet boat transport service has made travel much easier for the locals at present. Travel by road is difficult during the monsoon as there are no bridges over the major rivers. However, one can travel to Tarai towns and return home in a day these days with the operation of jet boat services," he expressed.
The locals have to pay Rs 600 for the 19-kilometres jet boat travel. Another local, Lal Bahadur Pradhan said operation of jet boat in the Arun river here has made it easy also for taking the patients to hospitals as they can be taken to hospital fast.
Stating that it is only two kilometres to reach Tarai via Bhojpur headquarters, Leguwa, Hile and Dhankuta, Pradhan shared the operation of jet boat has shortened the travel time.
It has directly benefited locals of southern areas, he added. According to the rural municipality, the operation of jet boat has connected Bhojpur, Dhankuta and Sunsari with east Tarai.
Chairperson of the rural municipality, Prem Kumar Rai, mentioned that the municipality has been carrying out activities for the development of tourism infrastructures with a target of linking rafting with tourism.
With the operation of jet boat, the distance from Hatuwagadi to Tarai district has become very short which helps contribute in development of the district.
With this, activities are underway with an objective of development of tourism sites within the rural municipality incorporating the lowest land of Bhojpur district, Maibeni.
