DHANGADI, JULY 02

Construction of the much-awaited Dhangadi-Dipayal fast track has not been completed even as the stipulated project completion deadline has expired. The 105-km road project was initiated three years ago to be completed withing 30 months.

Of the 20.5-km length from Kailali's Hatkholi to Ojhena, only 17-km track has been opened till date. According to Dhangadi-Dipayal Fast Track Planning Office engineer Dinesh Raikhole, tracks of 4-km from Ojhena to BP Nagar and 8-km from BP Nagar to Kafatdi have been opened.

'Regarding the 50-km stretch from Doti's Kafatdi to Salena, not much progress has been achieved as we've not yet got the order from the authorities to fell the trees to clear the track,' said the engineer.

In Kailali, however, trees in the road track have already been cut. So far, 70 per cent trees in the road track have been felled.

Doti Forest Division Office's assistant forest officer Laxmiraj Joshi said the permission to remove the trees on the track will be given once the complete details of the trees to be felled is collected.

'We've asked the project office to send us the details of the trees to be cleared. We will give permission to clear the trees once we get the details,' Joshi said

A version of this article appears in the print on July 3, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.