New Dharan Bus Park Remains Idle Seven Months After Completion

The newly constructed modern bus park in Dharan-8 remains non-operational seven months after the construction company handed the project over to the Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City. Despite the completion of physical infrastructure in July 2024, the facility has yet to serve a single passenger, leaving millions in state investment and land donations unused.

The project, located near the Radio Nepal tower, was designed to replace the congested Bhanu Chowk terminal, which has long been criticized as the smallest and most crowded in the country. The initiative began under the Tinkune Sundar Basti Development Project, involving the acquisition of over 13 bighas of land from 107 local landowners who provided their property for the city’s development.

Technical Specifications and Infrastructure

The facility was built by the M/S Bikoi Gitanjali JV at a contract cost of approximately 201.8 million rupees (excluding VAT). The terminal is an modern structure with an underground basement and a two-and-a-half-story terminal building.

The park is engineered to accommodate a high volume of traffic simultaneously:

• Heavy Vehicles: Space for 37 buses, with 19 dedicated queue bays and 18 standby spots.
• Light Vehicles: Parking for 24 cars or jeeps.
• Local Transit: Designated area for 82 auto-rickshaws.
• Two-Wheelers: Capacity for 72 motorcycles.

The ground floor houses a centralized ticket counter system designed to serve routes spanning the hilly and plains regions, including Taplejung, Ilam, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, and Biratnagar. The basement is specifically designed to manage the parking of smaller vehicles to reduce surface congestion.

Origins of the Operational Delay

The current deadlock stems from a new dispute regarding sales plots within the project area. During a recent executive meeting, Mayor Harka Raj Rai proposed using land designated for sale to compensate five dissatisfied landowners who are currently involved in legal litigation. This proposal triggered intense debate among ward chairs and executive members.

The sales plots were originally intended to be sold by the project to fund essential infrastructure like electricity, water, and roads within the new settlement. Critics, including Ward 17 Chair Manoj Bhattarai, accused the leadership of creating unnecessary drama during meetings instead of focusing on the immediate operation of the multi-million rupee facility.

Current Status and Future Outlook

To address the impasse, the Sub-Metropolitan City has formed a five-member study committee led by Ward 17 Chair Dhan Bahadur Rai. This committee is tasked with reviewing the Project Report (DPR), investigating the status of the sales plots, and providing a recommendation for the commencement of bus park services.

While the city prepares to tender the management of the bus park—estimated to generate 10 million rupees in annual revenue—the facility continues to sit empty. Local residents and land donors have expressed deep frustration that a project meant to define the future of Dharan’s transport remains stalled by administrative and political disagreements.