131 roads partially operational

KATHMANDU: OCT. 18 – One hundred and thirty one roads which were obstructed due to flood or landslide during the monsoon period have not yet fully come into operation.

The Department of Roads has said these roads would be repaired so as to operate two-way traffic in the coming days.

These had been opened for one-way traffic by removing the obstruction immediately after road traffic on these roadways came to a grinding halt before this.

Deputy Director General at the Department, Bhimarjun Adhikari said opening the one-way traffic on the roads that are obstructed becomes the first priority as the halt in transport adversely affects the normal life of the locals.

He said since ‘specific’ works have to be carried out for repair and maintenance of the roads which are now opened only for one-way traffic, the Division Road Offices concerned will carry out such works by hiring the contractors.

Adhikari, who is also the Chief of the Roads Repair Division, shared that their priority is to first open the blocked roads for one-way traffic. But the Department has been opening roads for two-way traffic on which there is much traffic pressure.

According to him, there might be a problem if two lanes are not operated on the East-West highway, including the Narayangadh-Butwal sector. However, even a single lane can do in the hilly roads.

Many roads have been damaged due to monsoon-induced disasters this year than previous years. The roads have been damaged due to heavy rain for long period this year. The Department stated that among the damaged roads, none is completely obstructed at present.

The Besisahar-Chame, Araniko highway, the Galchhi-Trishuli-Mailung-Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road suffered much damage this year.

Two hundred and twenty-six roads were obstructed due to rain this year. Among these roads, 95 roads are operational for two-way traffic while 131 are opened for one-way traffic at present.