Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today directed that reconstruction of widened roads at Krishna Pauroti, Dillibazaar and Maitighar sections be completed by mid-May.

The government has been widening different road sections in Kathmandu Valley. It has allocated only Rs 400 million for the purpose. However, government officials say the allocated budget is not sufficient to reconstruct the widened roads. “Another 400 million rupees is necessary to complete the work,” they say.

PM Bhattarai had yesterday directed the concerned authorities to remove electric and telephone poles within two weeks in the three sections and complete reconstruction work by mid-May. He also ordered to keep electric and telephone cables underground by mid-April. A working team has been formed in this regard.

The PM assured that necessary budget would be provided for the work and asked the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) to allocate budget for this. He also directed MoPPW to study and prepare a detailed report on the projects.

The PM said, “Road widening will not stop at any cost and all the widened roads will at least be gravelled within the current fiscal year.”

As per the demand of people in the Valley for wider roads, a committee headed by the PM’s Office has been formed. The committee includes secretaries of MoPPW, Ministries of Energy, Communication and Information, Home Affairs and chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

PM Bhattarai directed that action plans of national pride and first priority projects such as Pokhara, Bhairahawa and Nijgadh airports be prepared. He also ordered to gear up work on the Kathmandu-Tarai fast track.

The MoPPW informed that the right of way on Valley roads would be cleared within two weeks and necessary preparations would be completed.

“Around 70 per cent of the widened roads will be completed and the remaining 30 per cent will be gravelled by the end of the current fiscal year,” said officials.

Meanwhile, an all-party delegation from the far west is in Kathmandu to pressure the government to begin the shortest highway that links 10 far western districts. The 27-member team coordinated by Rang Nath Dhakal demanded that the 51 km Lamki-Badichaur highway be constructed.

The proposed highway will connect Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpa, Kalikot, Bajura, Achham, Dailekh, Surkhet and Kailali.

“The highway will facilitate more people than the 350 km Lamki-Atariya-Dadeldhura-Sanphe road and the 211 km Lamki-Kohalpur-Surkhet-Badichaur road,” Dhakal claimed.

source: The Himalayan Times, 28 feb 2012