CHITWAN: Widening of the narrow areas of Narayangadh-Muglin road section through rod anchoring method has begun.

Earlier, an agreement could not be reached between the Department of Roads and the contractor company on the method to be used to widen the narrow road section at the rocky slopes near Muglin. The two parties were unable to settle whether to cut through the rocks or use cantilever. Eventually, decision was made to use the rod anchoring technique.

According to Information Officer of the Narayangadh-Muglin Road Project, Engineer Shiva Khanal, starting 1.5 kilometres (km) from Muglin towards Narayangadh, 123 metres of narrow road exists. In those areas, the road must be constructed nine metres wide, whereas at present the road is only seven to eight metres wide.

The technicians had suggested the use of cantilever to broaden the road at these areas as cutting through the rocks was difficult. However, the construction company did not agree to use this method citing increased investment.

Khanal informed that through rod anchoring method, where the roads are narrow, safety belt is attached to the slope below the road, after which 25 mm and 32 mm thick rods are drilled into the rocks, one to two metres in, while the remaining portion protrudes outside. With those rods as support, wall is being raised to widen the road.

He shared that by raising the wall in this manner, the road can be widened by one to 1.5 metres. Presently, wall is being raised from five to eight metres below the road level.

Of the road section, 16 km towards Muglin from Narayangadh is being constructed 11 metres wide and from that point onward upto Muglin, the road is being made nine metres wide.

In total, 90 per cent work has been completed at the road section where expansion work is on-going, according to Khanal. Out of the 33.2 km long road, 30 km road has been black-topped till date.

Apart from those areas of the road that is in the process of being widened through rod achoring, the remaining portion of the road is targeted to be blacktopped by April 28, further informed Khanal.