Dhulikel-Kawa road under Araniko Highway to remain closed for four hours today and tomorrow for expansion

Published On: May 21, 2024 02:20 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, May 21: The Dhulikhel-Khawa road section of the Araniko Highway in Kavrepalanchowk will be closed for four hours today and tomorrow for expansion work. A meeting held on Monday with representatives of the District Coordination Committee, District Administration Office (DAO) and other concerned agencies decided to close the road section under construction for four hours today and tomorrow afternoon and carry out the expansion work.

According to the decision, the four kilometer road section will be completely closed today and tomorrow from 11AM to 3PM, according to the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchowk.

The DAO appealed to the public and requested them to use an alternative route as all types of transport (except for fire engines, ambulances, hearses and vehicles of security agencies) will be stopped for four hours.

Small vehicles going to Panchkhal via Kathmandu-Banepa can reach Panchkhal via Horizon Hotel-Agantuk Hotel (Gosainsthan Marga-Ravi Opi).

Similarly, as there are alternative roads to reach Panchkhal via Banepa's Chardobato-Ravi Opi and BP Highway-Tinpiple-Panchkhal, small vehicles have been requested to use the same route.

Apart from this, small vehicles can also use the Nagarkot-Kuntabesi-Zero Kilo road, while all types of vehicles coming towards Kathmandu via Dolalghat-Panchkhal can use the Kuntabesi-Nagarkot road from Zero-Kilo.

The deadline for the under-construction road section was April 1. Chief District Officer Rudradevi Sharma said that the highway has been closed in order to complete the remaining works swiftly.

The Division Road Office, Bhaktapur and the construction company had set a date of 22 months i.e. April 1, 2024 for the expansion of the said road section along with upgrading. A budget of Rs 201.9 million has been allocated for this section.

Senior Divisional Engineer Meghraj Marasini, head of the Division Road Office, said that since only 20 percent of the work has been completed by the deadline, the rest of the work will be completed soon. Araniko Highway is the main route to reach Tatopani in the northern part of Nepal. It serves as a route for commuting on Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap, Dolakha and other places.