Kathmandu, November 24

Due to obstruction from locals and political parties, only 34 km of the total 88 km roads have been expanded in Kathmandu Valley since the road expansion drive began in the fiscal 2064/2065.

According to Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project, 21 road sections have been expanded and work on expansion of 12 other road stretches is under way.

Project engineer Birendra Yadav said expansion of Maitighar-Tinkune (2.6 km), Kalimati-Balkhu-TU gate (2.2 km), Gausala-Old Baneshwor-New Baneshwor-Shankhamul (3.4 km), Dillibazar-Naxal-Bhatbhateni-Baluwatar (3.2 km), Kathmandu Plaza-Dillibazaar (0.7 km) and Kamalpokhari-Gyaneshwor-Ratopul (1.5 km) road sections have been completed.

Similarly, Lainchaur-Narayanthan (8.3 km), Maitighar-Bhadrakali (0.5 km), Ranibari-Sarkari Dhara (0.8 km), Dhumbarahi-Golfutar (2.4 km), Jaya Nepal-Kathmandu Plaza (0.4 km), Maitidevi-Gyaneshwor (0.5 km), NK Singh road (0.4 km), Jadibuti-Manohara (2.2 km), Maitidevi-Kalika mode (0.9 km), among others road sections, have also been expanded.

KVRIP had resumed expansion of 53 km road segments in Kathmandu in July this year. The project had started expansion of Tripureshwor-Kalanki, Chabahil-Jorpati-Sankhu, Jorpati-Sundarijal, Lagankhel-Satdobato, Imadol-Siddhipur-Godawari, Karmanasa-Harisiddhi, Dholahiti-Sunakothi-Chapagaun, and Nakkhu-Bhaisepati-Bungamati stretches.

Kathmandu Valley Development Authority has decided to use force to expand the Teku-Soltimode stretch, where locals have been obstructing the expansion move. Bhai Kaji Tiwari, development commissioner at KVDA, said they had waited for too long, but the locals were neither ready to accept compensation nor lift obstruction.

According to the Central Regional Road Directorate, they were facing the problem of site clearance along Tripureshwor-Nagdhunga and Chabahil-Jorpati-Sakhu road sections. Expansion of both sections had to be completed by July 15, 2017, but only 20 to 25 per cent work on Tripureshwor-Nagdhunga and 15 to 20 per cent work on Chabahil-Jorpati-Sakhu section have been completed so far.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been receiving complaints of dust pollution due to ongoing road expansion work in various parts of the Valley. KMC Spokesperson Gyanendra Karki said people living near the road stretches were complaining of dust pollution.