Rautahat, July 19 -- Over ten years ago, Chandrapur's contemporary bus terminal at Tekan Tol was opened with great celebration to put an end to the disorderly roadside parking along the bustling East-West Highway and Gaur road. Although the official opening was grand and there were multiple improvements, such as charging points, washrooms, and eateries, the facility has remained largely unutilized since operations ceased within six months due to security worries of transport operators regarding their parked vehicles.
The initiative aimed at simplifying roadside parking is still not in use, and the local authority is now facing demands to activate the expensive, fully-featured facility.
Last year, the Integrated Urban Development Project transferred the facility to Chandrapur Municipality. However, four months later, the gates are still locked, the inside is filled with trash, and the surrounding area is overgrown. The building, which has nine commercial shutters, remains deserted.
Mayor Sanjaya Kafle pledges transformation, mentioning that the bus terminal will soon begin functioning. "We are examining operational strategies. Whether by direct control or rental, we will soon activate this bus park," stated Kafle. Charging units have already been set up, although they are covered in dust. Residents say that the perimeter walls are deteriorating and the area is strangely quiet.
A local politician and leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Yubaraj Bhattarai, has emphasized the importance of utilizing the bus terminal and offered his backing if required. "Leaving it idle might lead to issues down the line. It's advisable to move all roadside vehicles here to prevent accidents and traffic jams," stated Bhattarai.
Prior to the construction of the bus park, private vehicles were parked randomly on roads and in garages, causing traffic congestion and raising the likelihood of accidents. Locals initially helped by fencing government land close to the Chandi river and initiated the bus park using public donations. The project was inaugurated with festivities, temporarily clearing the main junction. However, within a few months, buses ceased to arrive.
As per Pratap Lama, the former head of the Bus Park Construction Committee, the main concern continues to be safety. Vehicle owners are expressing dissatisfaction with the inadequate security measures in the newly built bus park.
Lalbabu Giri, head of the Rautahat Bus Operators Association, claims they are unable to park at Tekan Tol because of past cases of fuel theft and risks to drivers and vehicle staff. "Until security is enhanced, we won't bring our buses there," Giri stated, noting that their 75 buses still don't have a suitable parking option.
The Chandrapur Municipal Corporation is now committed to implementing the use of the bus terminal, and is also thinking about sending police officers for this purpose. Mayor Kafle mentioned that talks with transport operators are in progress to tackle their issues and eliminate vehicles from roadside parking permanently.
At first, regulations were established requiring all Gaur-bound vehicles to use Tekan Tol, but businesspeople quickly disregarded this rule. The local government is also planning a new storage area close to Chandi Bridge, while also implementing bus operations and parking rules at Tekan Tol.
At present, buses, trucks, e-rickshaws, and jeeps are parked in a disorganized manner on either side of Chandranigahapur Chowk and Gaur Road. Even though the traffic police have put up 'No Parking' signs, the issue continues. Lokendra Adhikari, head of the District Traffic Police Office in Rautahat, thinks that operating the bus park would address these problems. "Once the bus park starts working, the disorderly scenes on the highway will vanish," stated the traffic police officer.
Mayor Kafle agrees. "This facility will assist in decreasing road accidents and handling traffic increases during the holiday season more efficiently," he mentioned.
Supported by the Ministry of Urban Development, the bus terminal, featuring charging points, paved roads, and drainage facilities, exceeded a cost of Rs 161 million. The construction was finished by the contractor company Binayak/Projil JV Bhaktapur. Its engineer, Manish Kumar Singh, stated that the project was completed as scheduled.
However, the multimillion-rupee infrastructure is still not being utilized, leading to public backlash. The local authority now experiences increasing demands to put this neglected facility to effective use and avoid more waste of resources.
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