Kalanki-Koteshwar to turn into an eight-lane road

KATHMANDU, Oct 16: China has recently completed a survey and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) for widening the nine-km Kalanki-Koteshwore section into an eight-lane road.



The work is expected to start within six months. As per the agreement, the project will be completed within two years from the time the construction begins. [break]



"A high-level delegation of experts and consultants from China recently completed the survey and signed an MoU with us to complete upgrading of the existing three-lane section from Kalanki chowk to Koteshwore chowk," said Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary at MoPPW.



Sitaula said China will upgrade the road and handover to the Nepal government after the completion of the work as per the agreement. Total cost of improving this section of the 27-km Ring Road is estimated to be around Rs 4.5 billion.



The government has chosen this section of the Ring Road under the first phase of upgradation as the government does not have to acquire any land or dismantle any physical structure while executing the project.



As part of the project, each side of the road will have two main lanes, one service lane and one cycle track while the total breadth of the road will be 62 meter. "As per the agreement, we have to facilitate the construction by providing compensation and other supports while the Chinese side will undertake all construction works," said Sitaula.



In order to manage traffic at the two ends of the section under upgradation - Kalanki chowk and Koteshwore chowk - two under-ground passes will be constructed as part of the project. The total Ring Road will be constructed in three phases.



The government originally wanted to widen the Gongabu-Jhamsikhel section. However, it changed its plan as that involved removal of physical structure and acquisition of land.



No widening of Chabahil-Gaushala section



However, a source said the Chabahil-Gausala section of the Ring Road will remain bottlenecked as this section will not be upgraded due to lack of space to widen the road. There are a large number of private buildings and structure under that section.



"We have no plan to widen this section as we will be required to pay huge amount in compensation to landowners in the area where the land price is anyway very high," said the source.

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