KATHMANDU: The section of Kalanki-Maharajganj in the Ring Road is now more expansive and much more beautified than before. China’s engineering support in building physical infrastructure of the Ring Road of Kathmandu has given it a complete facelift. The four-lane road has been now converted into 8 lanes here.

Prime Minister K. P. Oli took the Chinese government onboard in his state visit to China in 2072 BS and made them commit to expand the capacity of traffic on the Ring Road and refurbish the same to give it a better look that is what it looks today for real. China had agreed to build 8 lanes in the entire ring-road stretching up to 27 kilometers.

In part consideration of the full contract for adding up more capacity to existing Ring Road, China has already handed over the Koteshwor-Kalanki section of the road to Government of Nepal in an official ceremony for public use. The complete work of Ring Road was divided into three stages to go part by part. China has completed one part of it by converting Koteshwor-Kalanki section of the road measuring 10.39 kilometers in length into 8 lanes traffic routes.

The second part of the work will cover the Kalanki-Maharajganj section of the Ring Road stretching 8.2 kilometers in length. China had announced in public to resume work on this section of the road as soon as capacity enhancement of Koteshwor-Kalanki was completed. The China government has estimated to spend Rs 6 billion in the next four years under which the work on Kalanki-Maharajgung will have completed.

DPR on its way of completion   

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the capacity expansion of physical infrastructure of the Kalanki-Maharajgunj section of the ring road is on its way to completion. Amrit Mani Rimal, the project head, told Khabarhub that the China government would complete the work on this section of the Ring Road before Dashain begins. “After the Kalanki-Maharajgunj section of the work is completed, both the governments will sit again for further plan of actions and reviewing the things if any. And this will set the third part of the work in motion,” says Rimal.

Physical structures in the vicinity to be removed

Rimal says, “Along with the DPR, other works are also in progress such as removing any physical infrastructure standing in the perimeter of 31 meters of the Ring Road to be measured from its middle point as it exists. All the concerned agencies and departments of the government connected with this have already been informed.”

Rimal clarifies that the ongoing project had informed all the stakeholders to remove these physical structures within 15 days of serving the notice to this effect. “And the notice was served through a public notice on Jestha 24,” he said. according to him, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Department of Forest and Drinking Water Supply Corporation and others have been informed. “If these agencies work on the notice sent to them without delay, our project work will not prolong the scheduled time in completing the capacity enhancement of Kalanki-Maharajgunj section of the Ring Road,” assures Rimal.

1800 trees to be uprooted

A total of 1800 trees are to be uprooted as they are standing within the designated area of 31 meters in the vicinity of the Ring Road on both sides. Rimal confirms that a letter has been sent to the Forest Department intimating them about the fact. At the same time, there are a number of electricity poles standing on both the sides of the Ring Road within the parameter of 31 meters. These poles are also to be displaced beyond the designated distance of 31 meters. Rimal says, “NEA has also been intimated regarding this.”

Lanes for planted trees and extra dividers to be built

No plants and trees are in sight at the Chinese-built Koteshwor-Kalanki section of the Ring Road. Things will be different this time. Kalanki-Maharajganj section of the road will have lanes for planted trees and extra dividers. The same lanes for planted trees which we see on the routes of Babarmahal-Baneshwor and Koteshwor-Bhaktapur. They are conveniently called ‘greener’. Now the ‘greener’ will be built by the Chinese government on the Ring Road by going green on both the sides and yes, the divider on the Ring Road will lessen the numbers and frequencies of the accidents in future, concludes Rimal.