Kathmandu

The roads of Kathmandu are a bane for its denizens. Whether in the rains or otherwise, it is always a toil on the Capital’s roads.

In 2012, the government led by then prime minister Baburam Bhattarai started work on the expansion of the Capital’s roads. In this major task, the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA), Kathmandu Valley Road Expansion Project (KVREP), Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Department of Roads are working jointly. However, the task seems to be moving at a sluggish pace though political leaders have claimed that it is on the ‘fast track’.

Manoj Shrestha, Chief of KVREP, said, “Right now there are three expansion projects running inside the Valley roads. And it is estimated to be completed within two years.”

The road expansion project of Kathmandu started four years ago with a target to build 79 km of paved roads. Till date, 36 km have been paved at a cost of more than Rs 420,000,000. The government had allocated Rs 300,000,000  to KVREP for the expansion works, to which Rs150,000,000  more was added later. A large amount is still needed for the remaining 43 km.

Road expansion at these places in going on at present — Ratna Park-Bagh Bazaar-Sinamangal, Chabahil-Jorpati-Sankhu, and Tripureshwor-Kalanki-Nagdhunga. Road expansion in the Chabahil-Jorpati-Sankhu, and Tripureshwor-Kalanki-Nagdhunga was proposed by the government to authorities a year ago, while the stretch from Ratnapark-Bagh Bazaar-Sinamangal has been widened and paved. However, the road stretch in Sinamangal that was widened and paved a month ago is already in ‘patches’ with the road split in the middle with the asphalt coming out.

In defence, Shrestha claimed that Him Pipe was put under the road for drainage and because it wasn’t paved properly, the asphalt had come out. “Our team is mending the road,” Shrestha assured.

Meanwhile, it looks like the project regarding the 12 km stretch from Chabahil-Jorpati-Sankhu will not complete in the said time. The KVDA has not been able to completely demolish all the illegal houses in this stretch. This road is planned at 22 metres wide.

The Tripureshwor-Kalanki-Nagdhunga is planned to be widened to 18 metres. The Kalanki-Nagdhunga stretch is part of the Tribhuvan Highway, the entry to Kathmandu Valley. Though the work was started a year ago, it has only been able to put markers on both sides of the road.

One cannot only blame the government and authorities concerned for the delay. Some local people from Kalimati, Sankhu and Thankot moved the court regarding compensation, which resulted in a stay order. In those areas, the KVREP has stopped work after finishing demarcation of the road.

The road has not been expanded in some parts of Jorpati because the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has not been able to remove the electricity poles. Shrestha said that KVREP has not provided funds needed to NEA for the same.

The KVREP is responsible for expansion of roads above 14 metres wide, Kathmandu Division 1 and 2 are responsible for roads that are 8-14 metres wide, while Kathmandu Metropolitan City is responsible for roads that are below eight metres wide.

Problems for pedestrians

Out of 45 km of road that Kathmandu Division–2 is responsible for, it has completed expansion of 15 km.

Division-2 Chief Karna Bahadur Ranabhat said, “We have finished 30 per cent of the total work. In the multi-layer contract, finishing that amount of work is taken as having completed 100 per cent work.”

In this sector, 34 sections of the road should be expanded within three years. Thirteen sections have been in expansion mode since last year. Twenty-one more roads will be under expansion mode from this fiscal year. For the expansion process, Rs 35-40 crore have been spent already.

According to Ranabhat, the road from Kirtipur Tribhuvan University Gate-Kirtipur Baipass, Samakhushi-Tokha and Tokha-Gurje are being expanded now. These roads, which had been planned for expansion four years ago, have just finished marking the line.

According to Department of Roads’s Spokesperson Daya Kanta Jha, “In the national arena, a big project like Dharan-Chatura, Syaprubeshi-Rasuwagadhi-Kimathanka road will be expanding soon.”