May 18, Siraha – Golbazar in Siraha, situated along the East-West Highway, is a busy commercial hub where thousands of vehicles and pedestrians pass daily. A weekly market is held in this congested area, which local residents say has increased the risk of accidents due to its operation on the road itself. Every Tuesday and Saturday, this market features the sale of vegetables, fruits, household goods, and clothing. The market’s setup on both sides of the road affects traffic flow and poses risks to pedestrians. Stretching about 500 meters west from Golpark Chowk to in front of the Golbazar Area Police Office, locals complain that the market narrows the road significantly.
Ram Babu Yadav, a local, explains that although the municipality collects revenue from traders and farmers through stall fees, adequate attention has not been given to security and market organization. The Gudari market contract was awarded for three years from fiscal years 2082 to 2085 (Nepali calendar) at a price of NPR 12,430,000. Although the municipality collects NPR 4,114,000 annually, locals claim there are no visible improvements in market management. “Such a large amount is collected from the contract, yet people still have to shop amidst risk on the roads,” he lamented.
Local resident Pramod Kumar Singh points out that the market’s location near Magic, Winger, bus, and tempo stands to the east of Golpark Chowk, and the market itself to the west, compounds the risk. Shops, pushcart vendors, and vegetable sellers make it difficult even for pedestrians to walk. Despite the Industry and Trade Association submitting proposals for better market management a year ago, no action has been taken. Rakesh Gupta, the association’s vice president, said they have repeatedly notified the municipality both orally and in writing, but without any response.
While the municipality, Industry and Trade Association, and traffic police have previously spent millions trying to manage the market, there has been little effective implementation. The municipality has made two attempts so far and spent approximately NPR 1,000,000 on these efforts. Yet, the continued annual revenue collection through contracts worth millions remains contrasted by the market’s unorganized state, raising concerns. Sanjit Lama, spokesperson for the municipality and chairperson of Ward No. 6, acknowledged that a multi-party meeting was held to address market management issues but no resolution was reached. He added that efforts to find a solution through another such meeting are underway. Meanwhile, Shalikram Timilsina, chief Traffic Police Inspector at the District Traffic Police Office in Lahan, stated that traffic police are deployed on market days. However, locals accuse authorities of focusing more on revenue collection than on traffic management.
