KATHMANDU: A dispute between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Rajunath Pandey and a Nepal Army officer during the expansion of a long-delayed corridor in Kathmandu’s Gokarna area has drawn attention after a video of the incident went viral.
Pandey, who previously served as chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s police force, was seen in the video refusing an Army officer’s request to halt construction work until official approval was presented.
The incident has reportedly caused dissatisfaction within the Nepal Army, with Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel raising concerns with Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
The dispute occurred on Monday while demolishing a boundary wall belonging to the Gokarna Forest Resort area under Nepal Trust during the expansion of the road from Boudha Makalbari to Gokarneshwor Temple.
The Nepal Army, which manages a disaster management training centre and security arrangements in the area, had expressed concerns that operating heavy machinery could affect wildlife in the forest area.
An Army officer reportedly asked Pandey to present official authorization before allowing the wall demolition. However, Pandey proceeded with the work, saying the corridor expansion must follow the same standards for everyone.
Pandey, along with Gokarneshwor Municipality-4 Ward Chairperson Jayaram Mahat, local representatives and residents, moved ahead with demolishing around 30 metres of the wall using a bulldozer.
In a video circulated on social media, the Army officer can be heard requesting Pandey to stop the work, saying that the area contains military personnel and a barracks. Pandey responds that the corridor standards apply equally and continues with the expansion work.
Pandey said he had coordinated with Prime Minister Shah before proceeding with the work and advised the Army officer to seek clarification from Nepal Trust if there were concerns.
He argued that the road expansion posed no security threat and said the old wall could create safety risks if left standing.
The Army officer, however, maintained that official permission was required before removing any structure within an area under military security responsibility. He also warned that demolishing the wall could allow wild animals to move outside the protected area.
Despite the objections, the wall was removed and the road expansion proceeded. Local residents said no trees were cut during the work and claimed that reopening the long-delayed section has connected both sides of the Bagmati Corridor, making travel easier for residents of Aalapot, Bhadrawas and Sundarijal.
The Nepal Army has expressed dissatisfaction over the incident, saying it has taken the treatment of its personnel seriously.
Following the controversy, Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel met Prime Minister Shah at Singha Durbar and raised concerns regarding the demolition of the military area’s boundary wall for road construction.
The meeting has been described as a regular interaction as Shah also holds the defence portfolio. However, sources said the Army chief expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of lawmaker Pandey, who is considered close to the prime minister.
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