The progress of the 8.3-kilometer section from Suryabinayak to Sanga has reached 45 percent. The progress of the 7.5-kilometer road section from Sanga to Dhulikhel is 55 percent.
What you should know
The overall construction progress of the road expansion from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavre has reached 50 percent. Work is being divided into two packages to expand the 15.8-kilometer Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel section of the Araniko Highway to six lanes.
Under this, the progress of the 8.3-kilometer section from Suryabinayak to Sanga has reached 45 percent. The progress of the 7.5-kilometer road section from Sanga to Dhulikhel is 55 percent. The Department of Roads has stated that construction of both packages is currently underway.
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kulman Ghising has monitored the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road expansion and inquired about the construction progress. After discussing the construction progress, problems and other issues with the Director General of the Roads Department, Vijay Jaisi, the project chief, and the construction entrepreneur, Minister Ghisingal urged them to expedite the construction, saying that now is the right time to work.
The Minister urged Ghisingal to take immediate decisions on any issues that remain to be decided on the project side, increase manpower and equipment, and work to complete the road expansion by the upcoming Ashar. He said that since the Ministry of Finance has made a commitment, there will be no budget shortage in the construction of the project.
The construction work of the project was affected due to road boundary dispute, problem of removing houses and huts, lack of budget, etc. Only Rs 700 million has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year. The project has demanded an additional budget of Rs 4 billion to complete the work quickly.
Minister Ghising held discussions with the mayor of Banepa Municipality and requested for necessary support and facilitation to solve the problems seen in the road expansion in the Banepa market area.
The progress of the retaining wall and drain construction in both packages has reached 95 percent. 2 km of the road in the Sanga-Dhulikhel section has been blacktopped.
