In the heart of Butwal, a bustling city in western Nepal, lies the country’s largest auto village, aptly named ‘Auto Village’. This sprawling complex, situated in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-2, is not only a hub for vehicle repair but also a dumping ground for old and damaged vehicles.
For decades, the auto village has been home to a plethora of vehicles, including excavators, tippers, trucks, vans, taxis, and jeeps, that have been left to rust after being damaged beyond repair in accidents. The site also houses a Dozer, a relic from the construction of the auto village in the mid-1990s, as well as vehicles that were torched during the Jan-Andolan movement.
According to Dhruvaraj Bhushal, vice-president of the Butwal Auto Engineering Association, over 50 vehicles have been dumped at the site, with many more scattered throughout the city. However, due to the vehicles being mortgaged to banks, the association has been unable to sell or dispose of them.
The auto village was established in 1999 with the aim of bringing together the city’s scattered vehicle repair businesses under one roof. Today, it is home to over 10,000 workers and technicians, with nearly 900 businesses operating in the area.
Photos: Pradeep Acharya/Nepal Photo Library
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