Passengers have to suffer due to dust and traffic jams on the southern road section of the east-west highway, which is undergoing road expansion. Drivers say that with the onset of summer, the roads are so dusty that they cannot see the vehicle in front of them. As culverts and bridges are being constructed in addition to cutting the hill, there is a traffic jam in this section every day.
On Wednesday, Ravindra Ghimire of Kawasoti-3, who was going to Kawasoti from Bhumhi in West Nawalparasi, got stuck in a traffic jam for 1 hour. He complained that it was uncomfortable to sit in the vehicle due to the dust on the one-way road. Traffic became more chaotic as vehicles overtook unnecessarily on narrow roads. When the dozer cuts the mountain, the traffic is jamming. On top of that, it is not possible to travel due to dust and potholes," he said. "Even when the vehicle in front cannot be seen due to dust, water has not been poured on the road. Pedestrians and motorcyclists are unable to walk.'
Due to the delay in the road expansion, passengers have to suffer on the Butwal-Narayangadh road section. Passengers traveling through this section for 6 years are suffering from the same. Locals have closed the road and protested, only watering regularly, even if repairs are done, the dust and potholes make driving very uncomfortable. Although this problem has been happening for 6 years, the problem is increasing because the contractor and the government side are not paying attention.
According to Chief Police Inspector Janak Banjara of the District Traffic Police Office, there is some problem in the traffic management in Daunne due to the ongoing road expansion. He said that the traffic police have been mobilized in Daunne section for traffic management.
It takes more than 2 hours to cross the distance of about 15 kilometers of the lower section. Due to the jam and dust in this section, private vehicles travel from Butwal to Palpa on the Kaligandaki Corridor section . However, common people are suffering due to this road section.
According to Engineer Shiv Khanal, information officer of Narayangadh-Butwal road extension project, eastern section, 47 kilometers of one-way black sheeting work has been done in the eastern section, while the work of cutting hills and putting up walls in the southern section is continuing . In 6 years since the road construction started, the progress is 58 percent .
