MAKWANPUR, Oct 30: The repair and maintenance of Tribhuvan Highway, which joins the capital with Hetauda, has recently got due attention. Being the oldest highway of the country, it was in a dilapidated state and was further deteriorating after being used as an alternative route for Mugling-Narayangadh road.
The Hetauda-Palung road section of the highway is currently under maintenance with the objective of completing the repair work within a month, according to Division Road Office (DRO), Hetauda. Jayaram Adhikari, spokesperson of DRO, informed Republica that it will cost Rs 16.3 million for repairing the 18-kilometer road from Bhainse to Lamidanda. Similarly, a contract of Rs 14.8 million has been signed for repairing the 11-kilometer road from Palung to Simbhanjyang.
Naagdhunga road full of potholes again
Furthermore, a huge amount of budget has been used for constructing retaining walls in various places where the road had caved in. Reportedly, there are more than 20,000 potholes in the 90-kilometer road section from Hetauda to Damechaur.
The highway was in a sorry state for years in lack of maintenance. The initiative to repair the highway has elated the locals as well as transport entrepreneurs.
Not just the road but also the bridges are equally perilous. There are altogether 20 bridges in the highway but 18 of them are not safe, according to DRO. Earlier, only 40 to 50 vehicles used to ply the highway, which has now jumped to more than 1,000 since Narayangadh-Mugling road was obstructed during monsoon.
