CHITWAN, July 17: Some residents of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-7 in Chitwan have taken control of a team that came to survey the East-West Railway.
The team from RH Consultancy, which claimed to have government permission, was surrounded by local residents who seized their vehicles and equipment.
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Dibya Nepal, secretary of the Railway Victims' Struggle Committee, reported that the team was conducting a survey using a Google map of the railway line. The team had previously conducted a survey in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-8 on Tuesday. However, during their survey in Ward number 7 today, around 200 to 300 locals gathered and took control of the team.
Secretary Nepal stated that the team is currently being interrogated and their documents have been requested for verification.
The local residents demand that the railway route should not displace the slum areas and insist that the current survey should be changed. The proposed railway route in Chitwan is planned to pass through Wards No. 8, 7, and 4 of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, heading towards Nawalparasi.
Previously, discussions were held between the Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the struggle committee, the railway department, and other concerned government agencies. An agreement was made to alter the current railway survey route to minimize damage to settlements. However, the resumption of the survey has raised suspicions among the locals.
