LALITPUR, July 9: A hole in the road, approximately 60 cm in radius, stands as a wall barrier against passing vehicles on the border of wards 1 and 2 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. Its size is increasing day by day, disrupting the flow of traffic in the entire area, and posing as a potential threat for road accidents.

Surendra Jaiswal, 52, whose candle shop lies right opposite the pit, said that traffic is high all the time during day, making the narrow street extremely crowded and busy. The crack poses threat to the local kids. “Kids run around. You don't know when they might fall into the hole”, Jaiswal said.

The geographical location of the hole has made it an even bigger driving hazard. A narrow street lies a few meters away from the hole, right in the middle of the narrow turning point. Arjun Kumar Shrestha, 28, who works as a driver says that because of the hole, turning isn't possible in one attempt as clearance is limited. “Accidents are sure to happen if the responsible body doesn't take immediate action”, Shrestha said adding, and “The risks increase three folds at night, when the vision isn't clear.”

Rajesh Kumar Maharjan, the chairperson of Ward 2 said that the metropolitan city will be taking immediate action to cover the hole. Maharjan said that they have been repeatedly repairing other such cracks in the past, which however isn't a long term solution.

According to him, the failed drainage system of Nepal is the reason why such openings emerge so frequently. Road gradients aren't properly maintained and water level isn't surveyed properly. The cracks open and widen during monsoon because leakage occurs inside the drains when water flows from above. He blames the Bagmati Integrated Development Project for the drainage problems.

 
• pit
 
• get
 
• repaired