The army said opening the road, which passes through the army headquarters, will pose security threat to the headquarters. The army has instead suggested that an alternative should be sought. [break]
“It is very difficult to open this road section to public now because of the high security sensitiveness. This section passes right through the army headquarters,” said Ramindra Chhettri, army spokesman, adding, “We have already written to the Ministry of Defense to find an alternative solution.”
On October 16, the prime minister had directed the national army to open the half-kilometer road within a week after the Valley Traffic Police Office reported to him that the capital´s traffic congestion would reduce by 30 percent if the road was opened for public vehicles.
Nine army units line the road section and opening the road to public would pose a security threat, the army said.
Chhettri said, “The army´s central maintenance unit, motor transportation unit and heavy equipment unit among others are located along the road."
Before 2001, the road was open to public but was closed for security reasons in the height of the Maoist insurgency.
“The army is holding discussion with the Ministry of Defense for exploring a permanent solution to the problem,” Chhettri told Republica on Sunday.
But officials at the Ministry of Defense said they could not comment on the matter as it is still under discussion.
Talking to Republica Saturday, Prime Minister Bhattarai said he is discussing the issue with authorities concerned. “Discussions are under way with those concerned to explore an alternative to the Maitighar-Bhadrakali road to reduce traffic congestion," the prime minister said when asked about his instruction to the army.
Government sources said there is a possibility of reviving a plan the national army had proposed in 2001 as an alternative to the closed road. In 2010 following a public interest litigation, the national army had informed the Supreme Court in writing that it had consulted with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to open an alternative road to connect Maitighar and Bhadrakali via the Ministry of Health and Population, Agricultural Development Bank, Nepal Food Corporation toward the west from Rastriya Beema Sansthan and Nepal Telecom building. The army had also informed the Ministry of Defense in this regard.
In 2010, the Supreme Court had refrained from ordering the army to reopen the road after it was informed that efforts were under way to explore an alternative to the closed road.
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