Kathmandu, February 23
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has said the second phase of the Ring Road widening project would be accelerated ahead.
The minister, who reached the project site today for an inspection, assured of a noticeable progress in the project implementation.
On the occasion, he cited a remarkable progress in site clearance, pledging a progress in true sense ahead. "Nepal and China had seriously assessed issues in the widening works, some hurdles were identified, and some of them have been already resolved. Most of physical infrastructure that were creating obstructions in implementing the project have been removed. Some poles are to be removed and small temples lying along the widening site have been shifted to other locations."
On the occasion, the minister said the Chinese minister had also pledged to expedite the project.
During the monitoring, he was accompanied by Chinese Ambassador Chen Song, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghishing and Kathmandu Metropolis Mayor Balendra Shah, among others.
The project had suffered delays as the Chinese side was demanding the 'site clearance' first to expedite the project. Talking to media, the minister said there is an agreement to revise the design so as to keep the cultural aspects of the area in front of the Swoyambhunath intact.
NEA Managing Director Ghishing said electric poles have been removed from all required locations along the route except one or two and it will be completed within next 15 days. There is no hurdle from the NEA to implement the project. The underground installation of electric wiring and road widening will go simultaneously.
Though there is an agreement for implementing the second phase of 8.2-kilometre project from Kalanki to Basundhara, the government has urged the Chinese side to extend it a bit further to the Dhobikhola bridge of Chabahil. The first phase of Koteshwor-Kalanki road widening project has already been completed.
The project based on G2G model was signed by Nepal and China in 2018.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
