It will take another two years to start construction, and the process for the DPR will be moved forward after the time for work is finalized after discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
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It is expected to take one and a half to two years to start the construction of the flyover and underpass in the Tinkune-Jadibuti section, which is prone to heavy traffic congestion. The construction is being carried out with the support of a concessional loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Cabinet meeting held on 2 Bhadra 2082 decided to take a concessional loan of 34.49 billion Japanese yen (about 30.08 billion rupees) from the Japanese government for the implementation of the Koteshwor Intersection Improvement Project, paving the way for the construction process to proceed.
The procedural work that needs to be done before starting the construction of the flyover and underpass is slow. Arjun Prasad Aryal, Head of the Development Assistance Implementation Division of the Roads Department, said that discussions are underway on how to proceed with the work since the project also includes land belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. ‘The government has approved a concessional loan from JICA for the construction,’ he said, ‘as the work has to be done from under the Tribhuvan International Airport, high alertness will have to be adopted.’ He clarified that the work will be done within a limited time.
We have to work even when the aircraft is not coming, which may increase the project time. Since the work has to be done in a sensitive area like the airport, security must be taken care of . Arjun Prasad Aryal, Head of the Development Assistance Implementation Division ‘We have to work even when the aircraft is not coming, which may increase the project time. Since the work has to be done in a sensitive area like the airport, security must be taken care of,’ Aryal said, ‘We will move forward with the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) once the construction time is determined.’ He claims that some government land in Tinkune is yet to be acquired and the issue of whether to buy the land of the Authority or how to proceed will be finalized in a few days. Around 31 ropanis of land of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal will have to be acquired. The department says that the Authority is positive about this.
According to the pre-feasibility study, a 94-meter retaining wall will be constructed immediately after crossing the Bagmati Bridge from the New Baneshwor side. After that, a 665-meter flyover will be constructed from Tinkune to near the Munibhairav Temple, said Suresh Poudel, Senior Divisional Engineer of the Development Assistance Implementation Division under the Road Department. After that, a 600-meter underpass (tunnel) will be constructed through a 100-meter retaining wall. “This is not an underpass like the one in Kalanki, where it is open,” Poudel said, “The underpass here is not open, it is like a closed box.”
A 238-meter flyover will also be built towards Jadibuti. A 119-meter retaining wall will be built to connect it, Poudel said. JICA took about one and a half years to conduct its pre-feasibility study. According to JICA’s study, the overall project construction period will be six years. The Road Department says that the current Munibhairav Temple will be moved a little higher after it falls under the underpass.
The department claims that the work will be done in a way that does not obstruct the road since there is a lot of traffic in this section. ‘It may take one and a half to two years to start construction after completing all the contract processes,’ Aryal said, ‘We should also discuss this with the concerned bodies. After completing everything, we will select a consultant and assign the responsibility to prepare the DPR. It will take six months to a year to complete this work.’
The department had planned to complete the design work in the current fiscal year. However, since all the processes have not been completed, work will start only in the next fiscal year, Aryal said. ‘We will decide after discussing with the authority when the work will not obstruct the airport. Only then will we know the cost and construction period,’ he said. He said that the authority has been asked for its opinion on this matter.
‘After the loan agreement was signed between high-ranking officials of Japan and Nepal on 17 Mangsir 2082, the Ministry of Finance sent it to the department to take further work forward,’ Aryal said. According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, around 400 to 500 passenger vehicles ply through the ring road every day. As the ring road expansion work is being delayed, stakeholders say that the construction of the flyover and underpass should be expedited.
