Kathmandu, November 13

The road expansion drive that was halted during Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals has begun on the Tripureshwor-Nagdhunga stretch.

Although the road expansion drive had begun in the Valley in the fiscal 2014/15, only 25 per cent work has been completed so far.

According to Central Regional Road Directorate road expansion work began from today. The directorate is trying to complete expansion of the road section at the earliest.

“If we face no obstruction from the public, we will complete 50 per cent work on the expansion of the road section within this fiscal,” Ayodhya Prasad Shrestha, regional director at the directorate told The Himalayan Times, adding, “Expansion work is moving at a snail’s pace due to obstruction in site clearance. Once the sites are cleared, expansion work will continue in full swing.”

Shrestha said Teku-Kalimati stretch and Satungal area were problematic areas where expansion work had yet to be be started due to the obstruction by locals.

“In other areas such as Teku Bridge to Kalimati sector and Satungal, we have either started construction work or are relocating electricity and telephone poles,” Shrestha said.

According to the directorate, only 20 per cent work on expansion of Bouddha-Jorpati road section have been completed so far, while construction activities have increased dust pollution in the area.

The areas around the Nepal Orthopedic Hospital and vicinity are badly affected by pollution and traffic jams.

Development Commissioner of Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Bhai Kaji Tiwari, said locals were obstructing the road expansion move to save their private property.

Meanwhile, the Department of Roads has prepared the procedure for relocating electricity and telephone poles, and drinking water pipes that have been slowing the road expansion move.

The Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project had resumed expansion of 53 km of road segments in Kathmandu in July this year.

These include Tripureshwor-Kalanki, Chabahil-Jorpati-Sankhu, Jorpati-Sundarijal, Lagankhel-Satdobato, Imadol-Siddhipur- Godawari, Karmanasa-Harisiddhi, Dholahiti-Sunakothi-Chapagaun and Nakkhu-Bhaisepati-Bungamati road stretches.

Earlier on November 10, the Development Committee of the Parliament had directed the Department of Roads to repair potholes-riddled roads of Kathmandu within a month.

Members of the committee had expressed serious concern about the pathetic condition of roads in Kathmandu.