BAJURA: After four months of isolation, repair work has finally begun on the Martadi–Kolti road in Bajura, a vital 42-kilometer link severed since June by monsoon rains and landslides.

The Infrastructure Development Office in Achham, working with Budhinanda and other local municipalities, launched clearance efforts on September 19, aiming to reopen the road before Dashain.

The prolonged closure had left residents of Himali, Swamikartik Khapar, Jagannath, and Budhinanda municipalities struggling to reach Martadi. Farmers in Budhinanda, who depend on selling vegetables and fruits during the festival season, feared they would lose their income without access to markets.

Local officials confirmed a bulldozer from Budhinanda Municipality is being used under a reduced-rate agreement with the Achham office. “The government’s standard rate is Rs. 4,741.93 per hour, which barely covers fuel,” municipal spokesperson Jangbir Rokaya said.

Chief District Officer Ganesh Prasad Paudel said repairs, now underway in both Budhinanda and Badimalika sections, are expected to restore traffic in time for Dashain.