KATHMANDU, July 4: The Development Committee of the Legislature Parliament today issued instructions to ban transportation along the landslide prone Narayanghat- Mugling road stretch for one and a half months during nigh time.
The Committee meeting held at Singha Durbar called for additional security measures citing that the route has been plagued with landslides with the start of monsoon inflicting loss of lives. The Committee has instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to ban vehicular movement in the night, to use alternate route, to continue road expansion work in night if possible and to relocate settlements at risk.
In the meeting, the Committee members directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Road Department, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to immediately upgrade the roads in the Kathmandu Valley, broaden the width of the road as per the set criteria, to lay utility tunnel for underground electric line network and to make the roads efficient in the next three months.
As per the agreement, the Narayanghat- Mugling road stretch should have had been completed by the month of April this year but only 50 per cent of the work has been carried out. The Committee has directed the concerned authority to speed up the work, and complete the road expansion project within 2017.
The Committee further drew the attention of the ministry and road department towards the persisting problems in the road connecting the northern transit point, postal highway, mid-hilly highway among other roads.
The Committee had recently issued a notice for identification and resolution of the problems in these highways after onsite visits.
The meeting has stressed on the need for coordination among the road construction bodies like Valley Development Authority, Road Division, and Kathmandu Metropolis.
The meeting further ordered to settle the problems caused by government's decision regarding the distribution of compensation to affected locals. It has also pressed for extending the roads along the Tripureshwor-Kalanki-Nagdhunga route.
The topic of compensation has remained in dispute as the government has taken various decisions in different dates regarding the dispatch of compensation.
The committee has directed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Valley Development Authority to provide the compensation to the affected people in compliance with the Supreme Court's decision issued in this connection.
Most of the committee members drew the attention of the government and the concerned bodies for the maintenance of the road sections as most of the roads across the country are in poor condition due to rain and landslides.
The committee has called the concerned bodies to discuss the delay being caused in road expansion along the Tripureshwor - Nagdhunga route where travelers are compelled to spend more time.
In response to the queries put forth by the Committee members, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Devendra Karki, said the Supreme Court verdict, obstructions from the locals and the authorities' failure to carry out timely management of electric poles, water pipeline and drainage pipes have caused delay in completion of road upgradation project.
The Kalanki-Nagdhunga route will be upgraded to four lanes with 22 meters width. Its design states that it will have a two-meter space allocated for greenery in the mid section including a separate bicycle line with 1.2 meter width, disabled and blind-friendly structures and a wider footpath.
Parliament endorses report
The meeting has endorsed various reports including a field visit report about the Kaligandaki Corridor, Narayangadh-Muglin Road Project- 2074 BS, Mailung-Syafrubesi Road and Rasuwagadhi Keirung Point-2074 BS.
The reports have talked about progress regarding the implementation of projects, brought to relief the challenges seen in course of its implementation, importance and necessity of such projects and matters needed to be improved, among others.
Prior to this, the Committee meeting held this morning passed the condolence motion on the demise of Committee member Mahin Limbu, who passed away on June 14 at the age of 60. In the meeting participants wished for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. RSS
Vehicular movement along Jaya Prithvi Highway resumes
