Hetauda road expansion to start Dec 6; encroachers warned

KATHMANDU: The road expansion project in Hetauda’s market area is set to begin on Dec 6, with authorities warning residents and business owners to remove any permanent or temporary structures built on the road within 15 days.

The Hetauda Road Division Office issued a notice on Nov 21, urging individuals to clear encroachments by Dec 5.

Failure to comply will result in demolition using bulldozers starting the morning of Dec 6, said Guru Prasad Adhikari, chief of the office.

“Bulldozers will operate in four areas from the morning of Dec 6 to remove structures built on the road.

Traffic will be restricted in the main market area during the operation,” Adhikari added. The District Police Office, Makwanpur, said vehicles will be redirected via bypass roads to ensure smooth movement.

To accelerate the project, the District Administration Office, Makwanpur, has formed a task force.

The committee, chaired by engineer Yadav Subedi of the Road Division Office, includes representatives from Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, the police, Survey Department, Drinking Water Board, Forest Office, Nepal Electricity Authority, and the Telecommunications Authority.

The task force will operate from the Road Division Office and is responsible for marking and removing permanent and temporary structures encroaching on Mahendra Highway and Tribhuvan Rajpath, as well as taking necessary legal action.

Preliminary work, including public announcements, has already begun.

District Chief Basanta Adhikari said that authorities are coordinating with relevant agencies to avoid disruptions to essential services such as electricity, water supply, and telecommunications. He emphasized that road expansion is crucial for making Hetauda, the provincial capital, a livable and beautiful city.

The project is fully funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and authorities insist that work will proceed without delay. “If property owners voluntarily remove encroachments, the project will proceed smoothly, benefiting everyone,” the district chief added.

The official notice specifies that all permanent and temporary houses, sheds, and other structures built within 25 meters on either side of the road’s center from Ratmate via Buddha Chowk to Rapti Bridge and from Buddha Chowk to Samari Bridge must be removed before the deadline.