The government is set to demolish private structures built on encroached public land along eight more road sections as part of its broad-road initiative under way in the Capital.

A recent meeting of concerned government bodies held under the chair of the head of the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Authority, Dr Bhaikaji Tiwari, decided to this effect.

According to officials, encroached parts of houses will be pulled down in Rudra Marg of Kathmandu- 9, surrounding areas of Katyani Temple in Kathmandu- 34, Kailaspatai Marg of Kathmandu -4, Ranidevi Marg- Nepal Police Academy section of Maharajgunj, Ektabasti Marg of Kathmandu- 4, Hattigauda-Khopasi of Kathmandu- 6, riverbank of Shova Bhagwati in Kathmandu- 15 and Shankhamul, Dobhav-Teku Bishnumati Bridge of Kathmandu - 34, 10, 11 and 12.

Branch roads in Kailaspati Marg, Ranidevi Marg, Ektabasti Marg, and Hattigauda-Khopasi section will be widened by six metres on either side of the road from the centre.

DIG Ganesh Raj Rai, in-charge of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division informed that unauthorised houses and huts built in the surrounding area of Katyani Temple will be razed by KVTDA in association with civic police, traffic police and Kathmandu Metropolitan City. For this, Survey Office has been asked to mark the unauthorised structures.

Similarly, riverbanks of Shova Bhagwati and Shankhamul-Teku Bagmati Bridge will be cleared to bring the 20-metre width road into use. The process of marking road sections and riverbanks has started.

“Once the encroached parts have been marked , we will give some days to local residents to clear the illegal structures on their own so as to minimize damage to property. If they defy the order, bulldozers would roll on there,” DIG Rai warned.

Officials have decided to use the loudhailer to call on all concerned to remove the unauthorised structures.

Meanwhile, the government has warned it will bulldoze permanent structures along the Lazimpat-Galfutar section if the concerned people do not demolish them by August 4. Earlier, only temporary structures were razed there during the road expansion drive.

The government has said that eligible people may apply for compensation for the property damaged on legal grounds. According to officials, 38 road sections were expanded since the initiative started six months ago.

source: The Himalayan Times,31 July 2012