HETAUNDA: Markets in Hetaunda reopened today following a two-day strike called by local businesspersons in protest of the demolition of houses along the Rapti Road of the Hetaunda–Narayaghat route.

The Central Regional Road Division Office had demolished 14 houses belonging to local residents and a building of the Nepal Red Cross Society as a part of its road expansion programme being launched under the Asian Highway Project.

The Office is expanding the road by 25 metres on both sides.

The Makawanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Raj Kumar Neupane, has demanded with the Road Division Office to provide suitable compensation for the houses and lands to the locals before demolishing the buildings.

The Office has issued an appeal to the people owing houses by the stretch from Ratomate to Chauki Tole and along the Hetaunda–Narayanghat road to clear their belongings so that it can move ahead with its task of demolishing around 2,800 houses within the next 15 days.

Thousands of people would turn into refugees after they would be forced to leave the houses, Neupane warned during a press meet.