Routes into and out of Kathmandu valley clear for Dashain travel: DoR

KATHMANDU: Department of Roads (DoR) has announced that routes for passengers travelling into and out of the Kathmandu valley for Dashain are now clear.

The DoR said passengers will no longer have to suffer, as most major highways across the country have undergone repair work after landslide debris was cleared. Travellers had previously experienced severe disruption because of landslides on main highways, including the Prithvi and Araniko highways.

Recently, when the Muglin–Narayangadh road section was blocked by landslides, passengers were forced to remain in traffic for more than 40 hours. DoR Deputy Director General and Spokesperson Prabhat Kumar Jha said he was confident there would be no problems unless there is torrential rain. "As soon as passengers started leaving for Dashain, major highways, including Prithvi and Araniko were completely blocked due to landslides. Passengers had a lot of trouble, but we worked 24 hours to clear the landslide debris. Currently, the road is smooth," he said.

At present, four highways are fully operational and 171 roadways are operating one-way. Traffic is completely halted at Syauparking and Rasuwagadhi as Thori–Bhandara–Malekhu and Galchhi–Trishuli–Betrawati–Mailung–Syafrubesi–Rasuwagadhi route is obstructed. The DoR said efforts are underway to reopen the obstructed road using excavators and loaders. The highway was blocked after a flood originating in China on July 30 eroded the road.

The DoR also reported that Ranipul Bailey bridge, which connects wards 5 and 6 of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality in Taplejung district along the Chhatara–Mulghat–Majhitar–Amarapurdanda–Ganeshchowk Tamor corridor, is completely obstructed. The DoR said Remit Hydro has begun work on reconstruction of the Bailey bridge. The Ranipul Bailey bridge over Tamor River, built by Remit Hydro about five years ago, was swept away by a flood on July 22.

The DoR added that Tatopani and Timure in Rasuwa district, along the Thori–Bhandara–Malekhu–Galchhi–Trishuli–Betrawati–Mailung–Syafrubesi–Rasuwagadhi route, are also completely blocked. Traffic is also obstructed at Alphate in Sankhuwasabha district on Rani–Biratnagar–Itahari–Dharan–Dhankuta–Hile and Leguwaghat–Tumlingtar–Khandbari–Num–Kimathanka in Koshi Highway corridor.

(With inputs from RSS)