BAJURA: Bajura district headquarters Martadi on Wednesday welcomed some passenger buses after a long wait of 21 years.

Chief District Officer Bhojraj Shrestha said the buses arrived in the town after the Tipada-Martadi road section along the Sanphe-Martadi road was recently repaired.

Now, all nine districts of the Far-Western Region have been connected to the national road network.

Scores of locals had gathered at the bus station to welcome the buses today. They even played musical instruments following years-long traditions to mark the new beginning.

"We are very glad that the buses have arrived here for the first time," a local Kalche Damai said, "We, therefore, organised a party here."

The foundation stone for the road connecting Bajura and Achham was laid by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari on November 24, 1995.

The initial target was that the Bajura district headquarters would be connected to the road network within next eight years. But, the project was heavily marred by the decade-long armed conflict.

More than Rs one billion has been spent in the construction of the 57-kilometre road.

Only 24-kilometre stretch has been blacktopped.