CHITWAN: Construction of a new track at Krishnabhir along the Prithvi Highway, where a landslide had completely blocked the road, has reached its final stage. The track is expected to be ready for regular traffic from September 17.
Cutting and road-leveling work up to the retaining wall was completed on Sunday, and a few vehicles were allowed to pass as part of a trial run. Following the successful test, work has been accelerated to prepare the track for regular traffic.
Ishwor Nepal, an engineer with the company constructing the new track, said the work has entered its final stage. According to him, graveling, slope-cutting and drainage construction have been underway for the past 11 days.
“We are probably moving ahead with the work to fully operate traffic from September 17,” Nepal said.
He said 11 to 12 pieces of heavy equipment were deployed during the first phase of construction for nine to 10 days. As the work has entered its final stage, around 40 to 50 skilled and unskilled workers have been mobilized. Five to six pieces of heavy equipment, including graders, rollers and excavators, are being used as required.
Graveling is currently underway on the new track using river gravel. Nepal said a drain is being constructed along the roadside, with pipes being laid and covered to complete the drainage system.
He said the track will be ready for traffic once the final sub-base layer is completed. The approximately 300-meter-long track has a seven-meter-wide roadway and a 7.5-meter-wide structure, including the drainage section. “This section is somewhat risky. If there are no further landslides, traffic will operate as planned,” Nepal said.
Sachendra Mishra, information officer of the Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project (Western Section), said finishing work is underway after grading of the new track was completed on Sunday.
He clarified that the vehicles allowed to pass on Sunday were part of a trial run and that the new track is currently closed. “Do not be misled into thinking that the new track has been opened to the public. A few vehicles were allowed to pass yesterday for testing purposes only,” Mishra said.
He added that if no further problems arise, all construction work will be completed by September 17, after which regular traffic will be allowed to operate through the new track.
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