Khotang, January 14 

Finally, after a long wait, transportation service has formally begun on the Diktel-Panchami Bazaar road linking Khotang’s remote Panchami bazaar to district headquarters Diktel from today.

The 50-km road project from Diktel-based Hospital Chowk in Rupakot Majhuwagadi Municipality to Panchami Bazaar of Diprung Rural Municipality-5 was completed about five years ago, but vehicles started plying the road only a few days ago.

The road was formally inaugurated today with Khotang Transportation Entrepreneurs’ Association running its bus on the route.

“Though for now we will operate only one bus, we will add more buses in order to make travelling comfortable and safe,” said the association’s general secretary Ram Hingmang.

Meanwhile, a programme was organised at Tawakhola today to welcome the bus and transportation entrepreneurs.

With the operation of vehicles on the route, people in the remote northern areas of Khotehang, Barahapokhari, Jantedhunga rural municipalities will find it easy to commute between their village and the district headquarters.

A total of 363.299 million rupees was spent for the road construction. The road was constructed under UK Aid-funded Rural Access Programme.