KATHMANDU: The Prithvi Highway has remained blocked for 10 days following a landslide at Krishnabhir, forcing vehicles travelling to and from Kathmandu to take alternative routes and causing severe traffic congestion on the Hetauda-Kathmandu road.
With the main highway impassable, vehicles heading to and from Kathmandu have been diverted to alternative routes, resulting in a significant increase in traffic on the Hetauda-Kathmandu road over the past week.
Following the surge in traffic, the District Administration Office, Makawanpur, designated separate routes for light and heavy vehicles travelling between Kathmandu and Hetauda from Bhadra 16.
Goods vehicles of up to 10 wheels are using the Tribhuvan Highway to travel towards Kathmandu and the Kanti Highway on their return journey. Vehicles with a capacity of fewer than 14 passengers travelling from Hetauda to Kathmandu have been assigned the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Sisneri-Dakshinkali route. Vehicles travelling from Kathmandu to Hetauda are using the Pharping-Pakhel-Kulekhani-Bhimphedi route.
The sudden increase in trucks, buses and other vehicles on the narrow mountain roads has led to prolonged traffic jams, forcing passengers to remain stranded for hours. The congestion has disrupted regular travel as well as the transportation of essential goods and cooking gas to Kathmandu.
Following the Krishnabhir landslide, public transport and vehicles carrying essential supplies, including gas and food, have been using these routes to travel towards western Nepal.
The journey between Hetauda and Kathmandu, which normally takes around three hours, has now been extended to about five hours due to the traffic congestion.
Photos: Nepal Photo Library
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