Ilam. Preparations are underway to operate the Tilkeni-Simalgo road as an alternative to the obstruction of Ilam-Rajduwali road section at Ilam municipality-9 along the Mechi highway. Chief District Officer (CDO) Sunita Nepal said preparations are underway to operate the traffic through diversion in the Jogmai rivulet under the road.

According to CDO Nepal, the construction of Dhamadhan diversion in Jogmai River has been going on since Sunday through the Road Division Ilam. The diversion is being constructed through 10 hum pipes in the Jogmai rivulet that connects Maijogmai Rural Municipality-4, Namsaling and Ilam Municipality-10, Godak. Division Chief of Road Division Office, Ilam, Pawan Bhattarai, said that the diversion and access road construction would be completed by this evening.

Vehicular movement along the road has come to a halt after the floods triggered by the heavy rains on October 1 swept away the Bailey Bridge constructed in June 1. This road connects Tilkeni of Ilam district headquarters to Godak of the Mechi highway. CDO Nepal said that preparations are underway to operate small vehicles from today itself. Small vehicles were operated on the Tilkeni-Bajradevi-Namsaling-Nayabazaar-Fikkal routes for the time being.

Vehicular movement in Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung districts has been obstructed for the past 10 days after the Ilam-Rajduwali road section at Ilam municipality-9 was obstructed due to landslides. Bhattarai, chief of the Road Division Office, Ilam, said, “The construction of a diversion has been started from Sunday by installing hum pipe in the Jogmai rivulet along the Tilkeni-Simalgo road.

However, alternative routes have not been identified for large vehicles and goods carriers. He said that it is difficult for large vehicles due to the fast turn and narrowness.