Kathmandu Metropolitan City authorities are working to clear all road sections, where the government is demolishing illegal structures as part of its road widening drive, within three months, as per the Prime Minister’s directive to continue with the initiative and get these road stretches gravelled within this fiscal.

“In keeping with the PM’s directive, we will provide full support to clear the roads as soon as possible,” said Gyanendra Karki, spokesperson for the metropolitan city, in reference to yesterday’s diktat to remove electricity and telephone poles within two weeks and clear the roads by mid-May.

“We will have to work together with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the energy ministry to relocate cables and poles along the road,” Karki said, adding that the municipality is also working with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, the lead agency in this project.

“Our role is to cooperate with line ministries,” he said. A committee has been formed to take cables and wires on the road underground.

The government has also formed a committee comprising secretaries of MoPPW, Ministries of Energy, Information and Communications, Home Affairs and KMC chief at the PM’s Office to expedite work.

Road gravelling before monsoon
Government authorities have decided to gravel the newly expanded roads before monsoon.

A recent meeting of stakeholders, chaired by Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire made the decision, officials said. The meet was attended by secretaries of the Ministry Physical Planning and Works, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, Director General of Department of Roads and Chiefs of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

DIG Ganesh Raj Rai, Metropolitan Traffic Police Department in-charge, said stakeholders have decided to metal the expanded roads at the earliest. He also informed that a time line has not been fixed for the purpose.

Authorities have feared that monsoon rain will further add to the worsening situation of reclaimed sites. For this, the Finance Ministry has agreed to allocate budget to the DoR, which is responsible for maintaining the roads, as per its requirement.

The government has demolished structures built on encroached public land along 17.83 km road in the Valley so far in the past two-and-a-half-month.

“Gravelling and black-topping of the expanded road sections will send a positive message to the public,” an official quoted Chief Secretary Ghimire as saying in the meeting.

source: The Himalayan Times,29 Feb 2012