The committee, with the consent of all government agencies involved in the drive, decided to accomplish certain percentages of works under any circumstances by the end of August. In tune with the committee´s decision, four different wings of the Department of Roads (DoR) expressed their commitments to complete certain works on certain road sections within the stipulated timeframe. [break]
According to a press statement issued by the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), the Kathmandu Valley Road Expansion Project (KVREP), which is under the DoR, will complete certain works on Maitighar-Tinkune, Lainchaur-Maharajgunj-Galfutar, Kalimati-Balkhu-Tribhuvan University (TU) gate, Maitighar-Bhadrakali and Gaushala-Baneshwor-Shankhamul road stretches by August end.
A one kilometer stretch of Maitighar-Tinkune road will be graveled and a 1.5 km pavement will be built along this newly-widened road. Similarly, one km stretch of Lainchaur-Galfutar road will be graveled and a two km pavement will be developed along this way. Graveling of a 600 meter stretch of Kalimati-TU gate road will be completed along with construction of a 700 meter pavement. Graveling of 400 meter stretch will be done on Maitighar-Bhadrakali road while Gaushala-Sankhamul will have a 500 meter stretch graveled by August end.
"This is, of course, our minimum target," said Krishna Hari Banskota, OPMCM secretary and coordinator of the committee. "We will be trying to finish more works in this period." Banskota said all concerned government agencies have already swung into action following Regmi´s warning.
Likewise, the Kathmandu Division Road Office of the DoR has expressed its commitment to complete certain works on Mandev Marga (0.750 km blacktopping), Sifal-Kalopul-Naksal (1.840 km graveling), Tahachal-Chhauni (0.800 km expansion) and Narayanchaur-Nanigunj (0.800 km blacktopping) by August end.
The Lalitpur Division Road Office of the DoR has said it will complete certain works on Kandeutasthan-Kupondol-Sanepa-Gyanodaya road (400 meter blacktopping), Jawalakhel-Ekantakuna road (800 meter graveling), Jawalakhel-Lagankhel (200 meter graveling), Satdobato-Karmanasha road (600 meter graveling), Bakhundol road (200 meter graveling), Patandhoka-Chakupat-UN Park (400 meter graveling), Pulchowk-St Mary´s Thadodhunga road (300 meter graveling), Bhanimandal-Dhobighat-Jhamsikhel (300 meter gravelling), Bishnu Mandir-Nakkhu Khola (200 meter graveling) and Chakrapath (500 meter footpath building) by August end.
The Bhaktapur Division Road Office of the DoR has said that it will complete one km base work of Sallaghari-Byas road, 200 meter graveling on Kaushaltar-Balkot and 400 graveling on Jagdumba Tower Nikosera road by August end.
Within the stipulated deadline, other government agencies like Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) will also complete certain works on certain road sections.
According to Banskota, widening of roads will continue simultaneously with graveling, blacktopping and footpath building along the newly-widened road stretches. Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district offices of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) will be widening new road stretches by bulldozing illegally-built physical structures even in monsoon.
While some of road sections have already been widened, others are being widened. And, some more road stretches have just been marked. The KVDA has said that altogether 400 km road stretches in the Kathmandu Valley need to be expanded to ease traffic management. However, as government agencies responsible for rebuilding the widened roads work sluggishly, the KVDA has failed to accelerate its demolition works.
As the KVDA and other government agencies fail to work at the same pace, many newly widened roads are lying incomplete, causing several problems to the common people. With the people´s complaint forcing Regmi to issue a warning against sluggish government agencies, reconstruction of the widened roads finally seems to be taking a momentum.
Pace of road reconstruction is disappointing
Krishna Hari Banskota, Secretary of Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), leads the committee formed by the government to monitor the ongoing road expansion.
What is you assessment of the progress made in the ongoing expansion and reconstruction of roads in the Kathmandu Valley?
The present scenario of the road expansion and reconstruction is really disappointing. Road contractors could not meet the deadline set by them for the end of the fiscal year 2069/70. The contractors should be more responsible and finish their work as soon as possible.
Why are the contractors delaying the reconstruction works?
The contractors reported three major problems because of which they could not meet the deadline. First, they were caught off guard by the early beginning of the monsoon reconstruction work. Similarly, locals often prevent workers from making coal-tar which is used in blacktopping the roads believing that it emits harmful gas. And the closure of stone and sand quarries sites in Lalitpur district has created difficulties in managing raw materials for construction.
But we have told them that they must find other alternatives for problems like shortage of raw materials. The government can convince the locals to let the workers do their jobs.
What is the government doing to speed up the reconstruction works?
A meeting was conducted to address the same problem which was led by Khil Raj Regmi, chairman of the Interim Election Council. And the meeting has finalized August 31 as the last date for the contractors to complete their work and submit progress report.
Given such a prolonged delay in the past, do you think the contractors will complete the work within one month?
It is all about the contractor´s sincerity toward their work and sense of responsibilities. They should complete their work on time. If they do not, there would be consequences. The government is always ready to help them in any matter. In this one month time, they have to submit a progressive report, otherwise, they will be punished.
Interviewed by Pratibha Rawal
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