Madhes-based parties had launched protests to express their displeasure over some provisions in the constitution since the preliminary draft was brought to public for feedback and suggestions six months ago.
The protests had brought lives to a grinding halt mainly in the eight districts of Tarai, from Parsa to Saptari.
Sunday afternoon saw a partial resumption of vehicles after Madhesi parties declared the withdrawal of their protests. But on Monday, the road traffic increased to the levels seen before the start of the protests.
In Lahan of Siraha district, there was a continuous flow of vehicles along the East-West Highway.
Passengers who had reached Lahan Bazaar from elsewhere had smiles on their faces on Monday. “The market in the area wore a deserted look just a few days ago as there was no movement of vehicles in the afternoons,” Santosh, a local trader, said.
Another local trader, Pramod Bhagat, said that the resumption of vehicles has infused excitement in the markets. “The mood has completely changed now,” he added.
Like local traders, the operation of transportation services has made laborers happier. They are able to earn daily wages with the increase in the flow of passengers and goods.
Local farmers, who were unable to transport their harvests to markets, were also excited with the Lahan market coming back to life.
Bechan Yadav, a local farmer, was in Lahan to shop for basic commodities on Sunday. After he learnt about the resumption of transportation service, he hurried back to his village in Tenuwapatti of Siraha. The next day, Yadav transported a truck loaded with paddy to the nearest market of Bariyarpur in the district.
He managed to sell five quintals of paddy on Monday at the rate of Rs 1500 per quintal. “It was becoming very difficult to manage household expenses without the money,” he added.
During the six-month-long protests, long route passengers along the East-West Highway had to travel under the escort provided by security personnel. The travel was considered risky, particularly through the section between Koshi Barrage of Saptari district in the east and Kamala River in the west.
“We have stopped providing escort to the vehicles effective from Monday night,” said DSP Uma Prasad Chaturbedi of Area Police Office, Lahan.
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