KATHMANDU: The Tusal-Jorpati section of the Chabahil to Sankhu road, which had remained unattended for long, is to be black-topped soon after locals and traders from Tusal, Bouddha and Jorpati hit the streets on Thursday to draw the attention of the bodies concerned towards the poor condition of the road and the troubles they are facing due to this.
The locals have suspended their street protest after a six-point agreement was reached between them and United Builders, the construction company which has been awarded the contract for upgrading the road. As per the agreement, the construction company will start works on black topping the road section from May 12 (Sunday).
President of the Boddha Trade Association, Deepak Chaulagain said an understanding has been reached whereby the contractor shall carry out works as applying the roller and constructing the base and sub-base before black topping the road. These works would be started from today itself.
The agreement was reached in a meeting attended by chief of the Contractor company Sakuntalal Hirachan, Kathmandu Metropolitan City ward chair Deependra Lama, Bouddha Trade Association chair Chaulagain, local people and representatives of Tusal Youth Club. Police had used tear gas and resorted to baton-charge on the demonstrators to take the situation under control. The protest demonstration had started at 8.30 am on Thursday.
Around a dozen demonstrators were injured. The demonstration was suspended after the contractor undertaking the road upgrading works was brought and an environment of understanding was forged between the protesters and the contractor company at the special initiation of police and the local people’s representatives.
The government in 2015 introduced a plan to upgrade the 11.46 kilometers Chabahil-Sankhu road to a four lane (22 meters wide) road and five contractors were appointed to undertake the task. But the road has seen no progress so far.
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