KATHMANDU: Kanti Highway, spanning from Lalitpur’s Tikabhairabh to Tinpane Bhanjyang, Bhattedanda, and Makwanpur’s Thingaon to Hetauda, is set to remain closed for 45 days, starting from March 14 to April 27.

This closure is part of a road widening project in the Kalche section of Lalitpur, according to Rabindra Maharjan, engineer at the Kanti Highway Road Planning.

The Kalche to Bagua section will be inaccessible from March 14 to April 27 between 10 am and 5 pm.

This 1.5 km stretch aims to widen the narrow part of the road, involving the cutting of hard rocks along the route.

Engineer Maharjan estimated the completion of this phase within the specified 45-day timeframe.

The decision to halt vehicular movement between 10 am to 5 pm for chainage cutting in the Kalche section was made during a meeting.

The meeting also resolved to ensure the smooth operation of essential services and ambulances on the Kanti Highway section.

Engineer Maharjan highlighted that approximately five kilometers of the road connecting Kathmandu with Hetauda is yet to be paved.

The protracted construction period, spanning 67 years, is attributed to a lack of government prioritization and sluggish progress by previous contractors.

The Kanti Highway extends over 92 km from Hetauda Buddha Chowk to Lalitpur Satdobato, with the project responsible for the 79 km stretch from Buddhachowk to Tikabhairabh.