KATHMANDU: Changunarayan Municipality has taken the initiative to upgrade the main road leading to Nagarkot, a popular tourist destination in Bhaktapur, ahead of the Nagarkot Visit Year 2082.
The municipality invited bids to upgrade the Bhaktapur-Nagarkot road using its internal resources, ensuring the event’s success starting next Baisakh (April).
The decision comes after years of delays and setbacks in the road construction project. Initially, a joint construction agreement was signed between the Government of Nepal and Exim Bank India on June 5, 2014, with a budget of Rs 270 million and a completion date set for June 17, 2016.
However, the deadline was extended ten times over 11 years, with costs rising to Rs 310 million, yet no significant progress was made. In the last week of December, the Road Improvement and Development Project Directorate finally canceled the contract due to the prolonged delay.
Mayor of Changunarayan Municipality, Jeevan Khatri, highlighted the importance of the road upgrade for the success of Nagarkot Visit Year 2082, calling it a festival not just for Nagarkot but for the entire nation.
“I have made a commitment to the people, fulfilling that commitment, the municipality has called for a contract to upgrade the road to make the visit year a success,” he said.
Due to the absence of a budget from the central government this year and the lengthy process involved, the municipality decided to move forward independently.
The upgrade plan includes filling potholes, blacktopping the road, and enhancing tourist convenience. Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing with the central government to handle additional construction work, including road belts and drainage systems.
According to Sanish Banmala, sub-engineer of the Bhaktapur-Nagarkot road, the 15-kilometer road from Bhatkekopati to Nagarkot will be upgraded rapidly, with work set to begin in April after the contract is signed.
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