Bajura Road Reopens After Three Months

The Martadi-Kolti road has reopened after being obstructed since the second week of Asar due to monsoon weather. The closure prevented farmers in Pandusen and other elevated areas from transporting their goods directly to local markets. During the disruption, alternative routes through the Karnali corridor were utilised by some growers to move apples toward Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. Apples cultivated within Swami Kartik Khapar Rural Municipality have been sent to Dhangadhi by producers. Currently, locally grown apples are being harvested from fields and sold within the Martadi market at prices ranging from NPR 130 to NPR 200 per kilogram. Apple farming takes place across approximately 375 hectares of land situated in Budinanda Municipality, Jagannath, Swami Kartik Khapar, and Himali Rural Municipalities, according to the District Agriculture Development Office Bajura. Road closures have historically caused significant hardship for travellers, who previously faced fares of up to NPR 2,000 and had to switch between three different vehicles to complete the journey between Martadi and Kolti. Originally inaugurated approximately 27 years ago, the Martadi-Kolti route has not yet undergone upgrades to meet established technical standards.