KATHMANDU: Residents in Sundar Bazaar have blocked the road at Khatritti today, demanding the immediate completion of the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway. The protest comes as a short section of the highway, considered a national pride project, remains incomplete due to local disputes.
The obstruction affects roughly two kilometers from the campus gate of Sundar Bazaar Municipality–6 to Khatritti, where locals have refused construction until compensation demands are met. Outside this stretch, roadwork has been completed, leaving residents to deal with dust, stagnant water, and other hazards.
The local struggle committee, formed to press for the highway’s completion, has submitted memorandums to the Chief District Officer, the project implementation unit in Palungtar, and the municipality, but says no meaningful action has been taken. The incomplete section has disrupted travel and local development, prompting residents to escalate their protest.
The 11-member committee, led by coordinator Rajendra KC and co-coordinator Chitrabahadur KC, has outlined a phased program. On Mangsir 26, they plan to blockade the municipal office from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The following day, they will march peacefully with placards from Khatritti to the campus gate, concluding with a corner meeting at Milan Chowk to pressure relevant authorities for road completion.
Committee members said the protest has received widespread support from local residents and others in the district. They warned that if authorities fail to act, additional measures will follow as per the committee’s planned program.
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