KATHMANDU, May 12: The construction of the outer ring road project, which was initiated by the government to connect the three districts of Kathmandu Valley with the road network, has become uncertain. Even after more than two decades since the discussion of the outer ring road started, the government has not yet taken any decision to forward the project.

During the last two decades, the governance system has undergone transformation, faced multiple changes in government leadership, ministerial reshuffle, secretaries and project heads have changed. But the outer ring road project remains confined to paperwork.

In the name of the project, government funds are being spent on administrative expenses and employees’ salaries. According to the project chief Prakash Aryal, the government has spent about Rs 500 million under the proposed project so far, including the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Since the last fiscal year, the project has failed to secure a place in the government’s priority list. Aryal said that the project is becoming more complex. "Even in the previous year, there was no concerted effort to advance the project," he remarked, highlighting the lack of tangible progress. The necessary land has yet to be acquired for the project, further compounded by the construction of over 300 concrete houses within the designated 6 km area that fall under the proposed outer ring road. This situation has escalated the project's challenges.

In the first phase, land acquisition work was initiated on a 6 km section from Chobhar to Satungal. But Aryal says that the work could not proceed due to the opposition of the locals.

The concept of constructing a 72 km outer ring road circling the three districts – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – was introduced in the year 2058 BS. The project under the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority under the Ministry of Urban Development now has a separate office.

In the past, the government had tried to raise investment with the help of various donor agencies to advance the construction of the outer ring road project. Accordingly, the outer ring road project was 'showcased' in the previous two investment summits. But the government could not secure foreign investment for the project.

In the recently held investment summit, the government did not showcase the outer ring road project. The project has been stalled due to the failure to remove the physical structures, land acquisition disputes and local impediments.

Rs 300 billion needed for land acquisition

In the first phase of the project, the track from Satungal to Chobhar has to be opened. The ring road, which is supposed to be 50 meters wide, has been designed to be of eight lanes.

The outer ring road will cover an area of 35.8 km in Kathmandu, 15 km in Lalitpur and 21 km in Bhaktapur. The total cost of the outer ring road, which was to be completed within 10 years, was estimated at Rs 72 billion. It is not possible for the government to raise such a large amount of resources by itself.

Even the 60th annual report of the Office of the Auditor General has pointed out that after 21 years of the project's concept, there is no progress except for conducting studies. In the fiscal year 2003/04, an estimated cost of Rs 56 billion was approved for land compensation, but the 60th report of the Office of the Auditor General pointed out that according to the current land value, more than Rs 300 billion is needed for land acquisition. Although administrative expenses are being spent on the project, the Office of the Auditor General concluded that no physical infrastructure work has been initiated.

Areas covered by the project

The government aims to construct an outer ring road that traverses various regions of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. Balambu along the Tribhuvan Highway is designated as the zero-kilometer point for the outer ring road.

In Kathmandu, the outer ring road is planned to pass through key areas including Naikap Bhanjyang, Thapagaun, Syuchatar, Sitapaila, Outer Swayambhu, Banasthali, the Balaju Industrial Area, Balaju Bypass, Gongbu, Hiledol, Manmaiju, Tokha-Saraswati area, Budhanilkantha, Chapali, Chunikhel, Tusalgaun, Gokarneshwar, and Nayapati.

Likewise, in Bhaktapur, the road will traverse Thali-Danchi, Changunarayan area, Phuyalgaun, Duwakot, Rokagaon, Hanumantar, Lukundol, Pakaune Pati, Kharipati, Sudal, Yengagdol, Jagati, Hanumante river, Araniko Highway, Srijannagar, Sallaghari, Dadhikot, and Gamcha, as outlined in the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Furthermore, the ring road will link Kathmandu's Chobhar area (old cement factory) to Lalitpur's Bagmati bridge via Lubhu, Bishnudol, Harisiddhi, Dasghar, Dhapakhel, Thecho, Bungmati, Khokana, and Karyabinayak. From Chobhar, the outer ring road will extend through Kirtipur, Machhegaun, south of Tinthana, and reach Satungal, according to preliminary reports.