The Kanti Lokpath, one of the country's oldest road projects with a length of 79 kilometers, has only been 71 percent completed in seven decades.
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The construction of the Kanti Lokpath, which enters Kathmandu from Hetauda, has not been completed even after seven decades. The construction of the said Lokpath began in 2013 BS as an alternative to the Tribhuvan Highway connecting Kathmandu-Birgunj. This Lokpath is considered as a short-distance alternative route connecting Kathmandu-Hetauda.
The construction of this Lokpath, which is 79 kilometers long, among the oldest road projects in the country, has been completed only 71 percent in seven decades. The Nepali Army opened its track from 2013 to 2016 BS.
Kanti Lokpath Project Information Officer Upendra Maharan said that about two-thirds of the project has been completed. He claims that the completion of the project has been delayed due to budget constraints and natural causes. Although the work of opening the track of the Lokpath started in 2013 BS, the Nepal government has started construction on a priority basis since the fiscal year 2064/65, said Information Officer Maharan.
He said that Rs 8.4 billion has been invested in the construction of the highway since 2064/65. The target is to complete the entire project by the next fiscal year 2083/84.
Only four and a half kilometers of this 79-kilometer-long highway are yet to be blacktopped.
There is currently only a single-lane road in the area that remains to be blacktopped. The road is being upgraded to two lanes by cutting rocks. Information Officer Maharan said that despite the short distance, it took time to complete the work due to geographical difficulties. The total contract liability for the current fiscal year is Rs 1.5 billion. The allocation for the current contract is only Rs 470 million.
Eight contracts have been awarded for rating walls, cutting, drainage and blacktopping of the highway. Information Officer Maharan said that construction companies are working in full swing. From Kathmandu, there is Tikabhairav in Lalitpur and Buddhachowk from Hetauda. The total distance from Tikabhairav to Buddhachowk is 79 kilometers. Although the width of this road is normally two lanes, in geographically narrow places, its width is between double lane and single lane, said Information Officer Maharan.
The road from Buddhachowk in Hetauda to Tikabhairav is being looked after by the Kantilok Path Road Project. The 10-kilometer road from Tikabhairav to Satdobato is being looked after by the Valley Road Expansion Project. Since the last fiscal year, the design of this road has been changed and it has been extended from Tikabhairav to Ekantakuna in Lalitpur. Of this road, 39 kilometers are in Lalitpur and 40 kilometers in Makawanpur.
The Nepali Army has started the road construction work from Kanti Lokpath. The army has now constructed more than three dozen roads and handed them over to the government. Recently, it has also taken responsibility for the construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh fast track.
