Sindhupalchok: Tatopani bazaar, once a bustling transit point between Nepal and China, now stands in ruins, desperately calling for reconstruction. The earthquake in 2015 and subsequent flooding in 2016 devastated the area, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread destruction. As a result, many people fled the bazaar, while others who couldn't afford to leave continue to live there, hoping for its revival.

Currently, the Miteri bridge, which connects Nepal and China, is fenced off with barbed wires, severely limiting the mobility of people. The customs office, banks, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry buildings are in a sorry state, no longer functional. Commercial buildings remain in ruins, overgrown with weeds. Many businesses along the Miteri bridge to Liping have shut down, leaving the area devoid of entrepreneurs.

Although China reconstructed the bridge after the earthquake, only a few containers carrying goods enter Nepal from China. The bridge remains mostly closed with restricted access, and Nepali people are barred from entering the Khasa bazaar on the Chinese side of the border. The Tatopani transit, which partially resumed after three years of closure, was once again shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite China's agreement to allow containers from Nepal, exports have not been consistent.

Government offices, including the customs office, banks, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have relocated approximately six kilometers away from the Miteri bridge to a newly constructed dry port. Similarly, the Khasa bazaar has also been relocated a few kilometers away from its original location. However, the locals and entrepreneurs still hold hope for the revival of the bazaar, anticipating the restoration of mobility between Nepal and China. The Khasa market on the Indian side plays a crucial role in facilitating business and attracting people from both countries.

Local residents express frustration and disappointment with the authorities' lack of concern and effort in reconstructing the bazaar. They feel abandoned and voice their concerns about unemployment and dependence on external food supplies. Hom Bahadur Basnet, President of the Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlights the adverse impact on local livelihoods, as business activities have significantly declined due to China's restrictions on people's mobility.

Basnet emphasizes that once there is easy access to the Khasa market in China, the movement of people will increase, allowing for the repair and reconstruction of the damaged structures. He also notes that using the Tatopani transit for imports reduces transportation costs and ensures timely delivery, benefiting consumers with lower prices and generating employment opportunities for locals.

The dry port, constructed with assistance from China, is currently struggling, handling only a few containers daily for customs clearances. Exports from Nepal have come to a standstill, while imports, such as apples, retail materials, and hydropower equipment, occur sporadically. Udaya Singh Bista, a customs officer, expresses concern about revenue targets not being met, and several electric vehicles imported through the transit remain stuck at the port.

Minister for Health and Population, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, suggests that diplomatic initiatives are necessary to reopen the transit, urging the Nepali government to engage with China to resolve the issues causing the closure.

The transnational trade between Nepal and China has yet to improve, with Tatopani transit alone contributing around Rs 1.5 billion annually before the 2015 earthquake. However, the proposed alternative transits at various locations, agreed upon in a memorandum of understanding between Nepal and China, have seen little progress. Feasibility studies for the seven proposed transits at Olangchungola, Kimathanka, Korala, Larke, Lamabagar, Yari, and Mugu are yet to be conducted, casting uncertainty on their opening.