Road Connectivity Transforms Lives and Economy in Chitwan's Ichhakamana

Chitwan. The daily life of Bisu Gurung from Ghurkes, Ichhakamana Rural Municipality-2, has transformed since vehicles began reaching her doorstep. She no longer needs to walk to the market, saving her valuable time for household chores.

Gurung, who works at a local health facility, noted that the road network has changed the lives of villagers. Most of Ichhakamana's geography, excluding areas near the Prithvi Highway and Narayangadh-Muglin road section, is hilly. The region is home to a majority indigenous population, with Chepangs accounting for 37 percent and indigenous groups making up 75 percent of the total population.

Panchabahadur Chepang, Ward Chair of Ichhakamana-2, states that the arrival of roads, electricity, and water supply has reduced migration. According to him, the road network has made it easier to transport local agricultural products to the market.

With motorcycles now reaching homes, those working in the market can commute daily. The 35-kilometer Shaktikhor-Fisling road passes through the hilly terrain of the rural municipality, connecting wards 2, 3, and 7 to the Narayangadh-Muglin and Prithvi highways.

Ichhakamana Rural Municipality Chair Dan Bahadur Gurung credits the projects of the rural municipality, Bagmati Province government, and the federal government for building roads and bridges that connect villages to the city. The total length of roads constructed by the three tiers of government in Ichhakamana exceeds 400 kilometers.

He stated, "Roads have reached every settlement, transforming the lives of citizens. The rural municipality spends over 40 percent of its development budget on roads and bridges. Migration has decreased since the roads arrived." He added that oranges worth approximately 90 million rupees are sold annually.

The rural municipality has introduced an 'agricultural ambulance' to transport vegetables. Farmers earn more from vegetables than from oranges, and the annual sale of goats and chickens exceeds 10 million rupees.

Chief Administrative Officer Chandra Basnet notes that the road network has also boosted tourism development in Ichhakamana. He says that domestic tourism has increased following the expansion of road access to sites of religious importance, the historic Upardanggadhi fort, and Siraichuli, the highest point in the district.