Ministers told to improve condition of roads in valley

Kathmandu, August 2

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa, Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, Minister of Urban Development Mohammad Istiyak Rai, Minister of Water Supply Bina Mahar and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gokul Baskota to improve road conditions in Kathmandu valley without further delay.

PM Oli called the ministers and chiefs of concerned departments, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority and Nepal Telecom to his office at Singha Durbar yesterday and drew their attention towards poor road conditions. He held discussions with the ministers and the authorities concerned and issued a nine-point directive, said a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

The directives include fixation of potholes and arrangement of traffic signs and street light in major road sections; completion of the construction and repair of Kalanki-Nagdhunga, Chabahil-Jorpati and other corridor roads by August-end; laying of Melamchi Drinking Water Project utility pipes and distribution of water as soon as possible; and relocation of utility poles which are causing delay in road construction.

During monsoon water-logging blocks roads leading to traffic disruption and pedestrians are forced to wade through flooded streets.

Frequent digging of roads for construction work and the tendency of leaving them unrepaired for long have also added to obstruction of water flow. The roads lack drains of adequate capacity for easy flow of rainwater during monsoon.

PM Oli has also directed the concerned ministries and departments to underground the telephone cables where possible and enhance urban aesthetics by managing electricity and telephone cables, and sewerage.

“Minister Mahaseth has been assigned to coordinate with the concerned ministers, secretaries and departmental heads for the improvement of road conditions, installation of street lights, traffic management, urban greenery, and other activities of infrastructure construction,” the release stated. PM Oli was also concerned about traffic jams in Kathmandu and directed the authorities to do the needful to solve the problem.

Meanwhile, PM Oli told them to initiate work for the construction of subway and flyover on the road sections with heavy traffic pressure in a manner to complete them within two years.