Bhojpur. Bhojpur, Feb. 13: Rafting or motorboat from Kopche of Hatuwagadhi rural municipality-9 to Baraha area has resumed.

The rafting which was halted since June due to rise in the water level in the river has resumed. Locals in the southern region have been facing problems in mobility due to lack of concrete bridges over Arun and Dudhkoshi rivers. Milan Rai, a local entrepreneur, said that the operation of the jetboat has made the passengers easier.

“Rafting has resumed with the receding water level in the river”, he said. If the water is even lower, it is possible to sail up to the Chatara bridge. Locals from the southern part now travel to Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar and other cities by jetboat. Earlier, it took three to four hours to walk to reach Chatara, but now it takes around 19 kilometers to cover the distance in 20-25 minutes.

The fare for Kopche-Baraha area has been fixed at Rs 500 and Rs 700 for Chatara. Lal Bahadur Pradhan, a local, said that the operation of the jet boat has made it easier for the sick people to reach the big hospitals of the city for treatment.

“The operation of the jet boat during the festival season has been a special convenience”, he said, adding, “One had to travel around 200 kilometers to reach the Tarai via Bhojpur district headquarters.” Now the waterway has shortened that distance. ’

The rural municipality has focused on infrastructure development with the objective of connecting rafting with tourism, said Prem Kumar Rai, chairperson of the rural municipality. According to him, the operation of rafting will not only reduce the distance between the Hatuwagadhi area and the Terai districts but also contribute to local tourism and economic activities.