Kathmandu, March 1: The government has given priority to the construction works concerning several national pride projects such as Mid-hilly Highway, Postal Highway, North-South Highway, Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi Roadway, Madan Bhandari Highway and Kaligandaki Corridor.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management says that 24.13 percent of the capital expenditure was spent on the implementation of these projects over the past seven months.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Basanta Kumar Nembang, informed the Ministry is expediting the construction works of these projects by securing a strong inter-ministerial coordination.
While speaking at a press meet organized at Singha Durbar on Saturday (Feb 28) on the occasion of the completion of his first 100 days in his office, he came up with such information.
“During the completion of the said period, the 18 km roads under the Mid-Hilly Highway have been blacktopped, six bridges are constructed, eight bridges are under construction and eight projects relating to bridge construction are in the implementation phase,” he said. According to him, his office has improved the condition of 9,500 roads within Kathmandu Valley as part of a dust-free road campaign.
“A 48 km-long road and five bridged have been along the Postal Highway. Similarly, a 33-km gravel track has been opened in the Kaligandaki Corridor and the constructions of three bridges and additional six kilometer-track have taken place along the Karnali Highway during the first 100 days of my office,” Minister Nemwang said.
Moreover, a 6-km gravel road has been prepared along the Galchhi-Trishuli-Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road section and the 26 km long road and 22 bridges were built under the Madan Bhandari Highway connecting Bahundangi of Jhapa to western Daldeldhura during the said period.
Similarly, the works have been intensified to expand a trade route linking the East-West Highway to Indian border points. Besides this, the roads measuring 200 kilometers have been blacktopped, the roads having the length of 130 km are graveled and a 69-km new track has been opened during the 100-day period.
Furthermore, the minister informed that the Ministry of Transport is executing short and long-term measures to overcome traffic problems in various areas like Koteshwar, Gwarko, Satdobato, and Naakhu.
The extension of Koteshwar road is in progress along with roads in Manohara Corridor to use it as a diversion. The DPR for construction of fly-overs at Gwarko, Satdobato, and Naakhu Chowk is also in progress, according to him.
Likewise, the government is working with the Japanese government to build an underpass and fly-over at Koteshwar and Jadibuti.
In this period, the ministry installed traffic lights in 17 different inter-sections in Kathmandu valley. The remaining six will be installed within this fiscal year.
