Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started the construction of a box culvert on the Tukucha River on the road section from Putalisadak to Ratnapark via Bagbazar. After the road was closed and the culvert was built, videos of students crossing the road at risk, some of whom fell over, are going viral on social media.

The metropolis had requested that people leave the road and use an alternative route before starting the work. Even after the road was demolished, people started forcibly crossing the river, so the metropolis is currently carrying out the work by completely blocking the right and left sides of the area. Pedestrians have also been completely prohibited from coming and going. A notice has been posted on a pamphlet in the area. A message has also been sent to pedestrians to use the route provided with the location. Those crossing the road section are hesitant. Those passing through that area turn back after not seeing any way forward. The general public has said that they have to suffer when the road is closed. Kathmandu Metropolitan City- 28 Deepak Bahadur Shahi, Sub-Engineer of the Public Works Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, said that the road will be closed from Falgun 20 to mid-Chait for the construction of a box culvert over the Tukucha River in Bagbazar. Vehicles as well as pedestrians in that section are still seen reaching the construction site without knowing that the road is closed.

Students going to tuition, coaching and working employees said that they were very troubled after the road was closed. Some were just going to college, some were returning from college, students going to a consultancy to study language, some were going to the bank and were confused when the road was closed. Similarly, some were walking with vegetables and fruits on their heads. They were asking, ‘Why is the road closed?’ Some were looking at the pamphlet kept by the metropolis. ‘Now, why do we have to go around so much for the same 1-minute road?’ Some were seen talking to each other.

There were three of them, Rishika Pyakurel, Elika Rijal, and Prakriti Acharya, all studying in the seventh semester of BBA at Padmakanya Multiple Campus. They were seen talking to each other about the road. They used to walk the same road whether going to college or returning home. Now, they said that it would be difficult for them. They all have one voice, ‘We finally came to know that the road is closed.’ When this road was opened to reach the college, it took only two minutes to walk, but now it takes 15 minutes to walk through the clock tower.' They looked worried as they said this.

Dil Bahadur Tamang was found looking for a way back and forth with a bank document in his hand. He said that he only came to know that the road there was closed when he got there. 'A one-way road should have been opened and built from one side. Now it is so difficult to go to the bank that is 1 minute away. I don't even know where to go from,' he said, 'The previous road was also good, why did the metropolis do this? I don't understand.' He said that not only himself but also the common people who were walking nearby for important work had to suffer due to the road closure.

Laxmi Lamichhane, who said that she came to the road from Samakhusi to work at her bank, said that she had just come to know about the road closure. ‘If I had known that the road was not there, I would not have come,’ she said, ‘If I take an alternative route to go to the bank, it will take a long time. It will be late to take the children to school. It is just a pity to walk so much.’ She said that even if the one-way road is opened, it will be easier.’

People living in the area, hotels, clothing stores and other businesses say that they are very uncomfortable. Subash, who is sitting outside his room, said that it is uncomfortable to go back and forth. ‘It has become difficult to go to buy some goods. It has become easy for those who travel by vehicle. It is also possible to go around,’ he said, ‘For people who have come there by walking, it is very difficult to go to the nearby consultancy, go to the bank, buy goods, buy vegetables and then walk back.’ He said that although the metropolis is doing good work, it is difficult for pedestrians. He also said that it was difficult for those who have hotels in that place. He said, ‘We always have lunch on the road that we are going to build. There was no need to go through Shankardev for that. It would have been easier for the general public if an alternative bridge had been built.’

Sub-Engineer Shahi said that the metropolis had tried to build an alternative bridge, but it was not possible. ‘We understand that it has been difficult for the general public for some time now,’ he said, ‘We are going to build a box culvert to reduce the risk of possible flooding and erosion during the rainy season.’

He said that although the road was blocked for a short time, the metropolis did this work to minimize the risk that may occur in the future. ‘We are going to build a culvert to reduce the potential risk, rather than for a short time,’ he said.

He said that due to the construction of houses along the Tukucha River, despite many efforts, it was not possible to build an easy and short alternative route.

He said that the metropolis does not want to inconvenience the general public as well as businessmen. ‘The problem has arisen because the road is used by a lot of students studying college, public service, and language in the said area,’ he said, ‘Although it took some time, we have made an alternative route and also kept the location. We have kept the road lanes open so that those doing business and professions are not affected.’