Mechinagar Municipality
Mechinagar is a municipality in Jhapa District, Koshi Province, Nepal and is the main entry point from India on Nepal's eastern border. Nepal's customs office is in Kakarvitta, a section of the municipality. The city lies 475 km southeast of the capital Kathmandu and 115 km east of Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi Province.
Origin
Mechinagar Municipality initially originated by combining Dhulabari and Kakarbhitta Village Development Committee. The municipality got its first territorial expansion by merging with nearby VDCs Bahundangi, Duhagadhi, Jyamirgadhi and Dhaijan in 2073 BS. The population of the expanded city is 131,520, and its area is 192.52 sq. km. The municipality is the municipality with the highest population in the country. Kakarbhitta used to be the hub of betel nut trade in Nepal. There is still a street named ‘Supari Lane’ in Kakarbhitta.Geographical status
The city lies in the eastern part of Nepal. The city is the largest municipality in the Jhapa District. The city has Arjundhara Municipality and Birtamod in the Western Part, Buddha Shanti Gaupalika and Ilam District in the North, Bhadrapur, Mechi in the South and West Bengal, India in the East. Mechi River separates the City and Nepal from India.Two major highways, Mahendra Highway & Mechi Highway, run in the city. The city is the link between the Northern Mechi Zone for the rest of the nation. The nearest airport is Bhadrapur Airport, which is just attached to the Southern part of the city. Daily 6-8 flights make it to Kathmandu two ways from the airport.
Ward Division
Previously, the city was divided into 13 wards. The city was divided into 15 wards after expansion. The following are the new ward divisions:| Ward No | Previously | Area | Population | Density |
| 1 | Bahundangi 7,8 & 9 | 13.10 | 5,793 | 442 |
| 2 | Bahundangi 4 & 6 | 13.50 | 5,877 | 435 |
| 3 | Bahundangi 3 & 5 | 18.50 | 7,102 | 384 |
| 4 | Bahundangi 1 & 2 | 12.40 | 5,050 | 407 |
| 5 | Mechinagar 8 & 9 | 9.17 | 4,533 | 494 |
| 6 | Mechinagar 10 | 4.43 | 14,289 | 3,226 |
| 7 | Mechinagar 11 & 12 and Jymargadi 8 & 9 | 16.21 | 10,904 | 673 |
| 8 | Mechinagar 7 & 13 | 12.10 | 6,527 | 539 |
| 9 | Mechinagar 4,5 & 6 | 13.50 | 10,162 | 753 |
| 10 | Mechinagar 1,2 & 3 | 8.05 | 13,588 | 1,688 |
| 11 | Dhaijan 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9 | 9.55 | 5,507 | 577 |
| 12 | Dhaijan 3, 4, 5 & 6 | 7.01 | 4,313 | 615 |
| 13 | Duwagadi 2, 3, 4 & 5 | 12.30 | 5,594 | 455 |
| 14 | Duwagadi 1, 6, 7, 8 & 9 | 19.10 | 5,103 | 267 |
| 15 | Jymargadi 1,2,3,4,5,6 & 7 | 23.60 | 7,395 | 313 |
Local Election
Local Level Election 2017
Mechinagar Municipality is in the Jhapa district of Pradesh 1. There are 90,202 eligible voters for the Nepal local elections 2017, according to the Election Commission. There are 15 wards in the metropolitan city with a population of 111,520.- Total Population: 111,520
- Number of Wards: 15
- Election Center: 35
- Number of Male Voters: 45,112
- Number of Female Voters: 45,090
- Number of Other Voters: -
- Total Eligible Voters: 90,202
Mayoral election
! style="width: 108pt;" |Candidate
! style="width: 40pt;" |Votes
! style="width: 30pt;" |%
!colspan=3 align=left|Total||49,711|| 100
! colspan="3" |Result
! colspan="2" |Nepali Congress gain
Local Level Election 2079
Mechinagar Municipality is in the Jhapa district of Pradesh 1. There are 90,202 eligible voters for the Nepal local elections 2022, according to the Election Commission. There are 15 wards in the metropolitan city with a population of 131,520.- Total Population : 131,520
- Number of Wards : 15
- Election Center : 35
- Number of Male Voters : 45,112
- Number of Female Voters : 45,090
- Number of Other Voters : -
- Total Eligible Voters : 90,202
| Party | Mayor | Deputy Mayor | Results |
| Nepali Congress | Indra Bahadur Budhathoki | - | |
| CPN | Gopal Chandra Budhathoki | Mina Kumari Pokharel | |
| Communist Party of Nepal | - | Prakash Bhandari | |
| Mangol National Organization | Kishore Dhimal | Shikha Limbu | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | Ramesh Dahal | Sabina Bajgain | |
| Loktantrit Samajwadi Party | Lawan Singh Dhimal | Anita Murmu | |
| Maulik Jarokilo Party | Hira Bastola | Sita Dulal | |
| CPN | Bharisadas Poudel | - | |
| CPN | - | Sharada Sharma Ghimire | |
| Independents | Ram Kumar Budhathoki | ||
| Independents | Bijay Kumar Adhikari | ||
| Independents | Dilli Ram Ghimire |
Council formation
Current members
Demographics
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Mechinagar Municipality had a population of 112,997. Of these, 63.5% spoke Nepali, 8.7% Rajbanshi, 3.6% Limbu, 3.5% Maithili, 2.6% Rai, 2.6% Tamang, 1.8% Mech, 1.8% Newar, 1.5% Santali, 1.4% Magar, 1.2% Dhimal, 0.8% Rajasthani, 0.8% Urdu, 0.7% Kisan, 0.7% Tharu, 0.6% Gurung, 0.4% Bengali, 0.4% Bhojpuri, 0.4% Danwar, 0.4% Hindi, 0.4% Uranw/Urau, 0.3% Bantawa, 0.3% Sherpa, 0.2% Chamling, 0.1% Dungmali, 0.1% Kharia, 0.1% Kulung, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Malpande, 0.1% Musalman, 0.1% Sunwar and 0.4% other languages as their first language.In terms of ethnicity/caste, 22.3% were Hill Brahmin, 18.6% Chhetri, 8.9% Rajbanshi, 5.1% Rai, 4.7% Limbu, 4.4% Newar, 4.3% Tamang, 3.9% Magar, 3.5% Kami, 2.0% Damai/Dholi, 1.9% Mech, 1.9% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 1.3% Dhimal, 1.3% Musalman, 1.3% Santal, 1.1% Tharu, 1.0% Gharti/Bhujel, 1.0% Gurung, 1.0% Marwadi, 0.8% Kisan, 0.8% Sarki, 0.7% Danuwar, 0.7% other Terai, 0.6% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.5% Kathabaniyan, 0.4% Sherpa, 0.3% Bengali, 0.3% Majhi, 0.3% Munda, 0.3% Sunuwar, 0.3% Teli, 0.3% Yadav, 0.2% Terai Brahmin, 0.2% other Dalit, 0.2% Dhanuk, 0.2% Hajjam/Thakur, 0.2% other Janajati, 0.2% Kalwar, 0.2% Mallaha, 0.1% Bantawa, 0.1% Bantar/Sardar, 0.1% Chamling, 0.1% Dhobi, 0.1% Dom, 0.1% Halwai, 0.1% Kanu, 0.1% Kayastha, 0.1% Kewat, 0.1% Khawas, 0.1% Kulung, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Musahar, 0.1% Pattharkatta/Kushwadiya, 0.1% Rajput, 0.1% Samgpang, 0.1% Sonar, 0.1% Sudhi, 0.1% Thakuri, 0.1% Thami, 0.1% Yakkha and 0.4% others.
In terms of religion, 81.9% were Hindu, 6.4% Buddhist, 6.1% Kirati, 2.5% Christian, 1.2% Muslim, 1.2% Prakriti, 0.2% Jain and 0.5% others.
In terms of literacy, 77.0% could read and write, 1.4% could only read and 21.6% could neither read nor write.
Climate
The city temperature reaches up to 40 degree Celsius in the summer and falls below 8 degrees in the winter. The city is a summer city and the winter lasts only for four months. During March and April, high winds are likely to occur and moderate rainfall is seen in June and July.Road Network
- Asian Highway 02
- Mahendra Highway
- Mechi Highway
- Bahundangi Road