Freight Vehicles Banned Indefinitely on Damak–Chisopani Phalgunanda Road

Dragon Media Correspondent

The operation of heavy freight vehicles has been suspended indefinitely from today on the Phalgunanda Road linking Damak in Jhapa with Chisopani Panchami in Panchthar via Mangsebung Rural Municipality in Ilam.

According to Acting Chairperson of Mangsebung Rural Municipality Binod Kumar Nembang, trucks, tippers, trailers and other heavy freight vehicles have been barred from using the road until further notice.

Continuous rainfall has damaged several sections of the road within Mangsebung Rural Municipality, making transportation increasingly risky. As repair and restoration work is underway, freight operators have been asked to use alternative routes to help keep the road safe and manageable.

Nembang said the restriction was imposed at the request of the users’ committee so that repair work on the damaged sections could be completed safely and on time. Vehicles carrying essential goods, however, have been exempted from the restriction.

Following the rain-related damage, dozens of freight vehicles using the road daily had begun causing congestion at several points. The temporary ban is intended to facilitate smoother movement of passenger vehicles until repair work is completed.

Construction of the Damak–Chisopani road began around three decades ago, but the project has still not been fully completed. Because large sections remain unpaved, transport and daily life are regularly affected by dust during the dry season and mud during the monsoon.

The road provides an important connection among Jhapa, Ilam and Panchthar. Thousands of residents use the route for daily travel and for transporting agricultural produce to markets. Local residents have repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction over the prolonged delay in completing the road.