Krishnabhir section of Prithvi Highway to reopen on Thursday

KATHMANDU: The two-way traffic along the Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway will resume on Thursday after completion of a new track, the Department of Roads said on Tuesday. 

Traffic services on the blocked road in Dhading began operating on a trial basis on Sunday following major disruption caused by flooding in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa.

Gravelling, drain construction and structural reinforcement works are underway along the stretch to prepare for full reopening. "The gravelling work will be completed by Wednesday. Two-way traffic will be operated from Thursday morning," said Suresh Paudel, senior divisional engineer at the Department of Roads and project coordinator for the Nagdhunga–Naubise–Muglin road section.

Work on the new stretch fained momentum after the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MoID) carried out a four-day technical inspection with assistance from the Department of Roads and Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS). Engineering experts recommended cutting into the hill at Krishnabhir to construct a new 250-metre-long track as the primary option.

"Taking various suggestions from the experts, the department had started cutting trees from September 4; the track construction has been completed by digging 35 metres in height and 20 metres into the hill in the Krishnabhir area," Paudel said.

Paudel said 50 personnel, including technical staff, worked continuously for 12 to 16 hours daily on the project. 
On Sunday — the 10th day since operations began — a limited number of vehicles, including LPG gas bullets, were permitted to pass on a trial basis. Essential service vehicles are currently allowed to travel during designated morning and evening hours.

Addressing the federal parliament on September 2, Prime Minister Balendra Shah had said the Krishnabhir section damaged by the Rasuwa flood would be brought back into operation by mid-September. Following his statement, the MoID initiated track-opening operations along the damaged stretch.

Measures have been put in place to reduce the risk of further traffic disruption from potential landslides, debris or mud falling from the slopes above once the new track opens fully. Heavy equipment has been stationed on site to clear any unexpected landslips immediately. Additional gravelling material has been stockpiled in anticipation of water and silt damaging the road surface, and surface drainage systems have been installed to divert subsoil water away from the core road structure.

Fissures have been identified on the hillside above Krishnabhir. Preparations are underway to prevent rainwater from infiltrating these cracks. Workers plan to seal the fissures using available chemical compounds and technical methods, and to cover them with plastic sheeting to block water entry.

At present, traffic is allowed between 6:00 am and 7:00 am, and between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, with construction work paused for emergency vehicles when necessary. The road remains completely closed at night. The Department of Roads said it is working with local authorities to install street lighting and reflective safety markers along the new track to enable safe night-time travel.

Given the ongoing hazards at Krishnabhir, track construction has also been advanced along an alternative 20-kilometre section from Benighat to Fisling. Preparations are complete to allow passenger vehicles to use this route as an alternative.

Flooding in the Bhotekoshi on August 26 initially damaged the retaining wall at Krishnabhir; a second flood on August 30 destroyed the structure entirely, cutting off transport services.

(With inputs from RSS)