Portion of Arniko Highway in Kavrepalanchok to be Closed for Two Weeks in Chaitra for Paving Work

Kavrepalanchok. While the upgrading of the Dhulikhel-Khawa section of the Arniko Highway in Kavre is being expedited, it will be closed for two weeks in Chaitra for asphalting (paving).

Following the termination of the previous contractor due to negligence, a new agreement was signed with a new construction company in Kartik. As the upgrading work has resumed with intensity, the road will be closed for vehicular traffic during nighttime from Chaitra 7 to Chaitra 20 for asphalting work, according to a public notice issued by the Division Road Office, Bhaktapur. Senior Divisional Engineer Sunam Yogesh, the office chief, confirmed the closure period for the asphalting work.

According to him, during the closure period from Chaitra 7 to Chaitra 20 for asphalting the road section, large four-wheeled vehicles will be prohibited from operating between 6 PM and 5 AM. Passenger buses will also be prohibited during this time, and commuters are urged to use alternative routes. Furthermore, cargo vehicles, including tippers and trucks (even those with permits), will be prohibited from operating for 24 hours.

The delay in construction on this road section has made travel on the highway arduous for the past three years. The office re-invited bids in Shrawan, five months after canceling the old contract. Yogesh expressed optimism that the new construction company will complete the four-kilometer road section on time.

The office had previously canceled the contract with the construction company responsible for the Dhulikhel-Khawa section, citing failure to complete the construction by the stipulated deadline. The contract was initially awarded on February 28 last year (Falgun 15, 2079 BS), 11 months after the agreement deadline expired. The company had secured the contract for Rs 201,946,501, with a deadline of 22 months, meaning completion by Chaitra 19, 2080 BS.

This highway serves as a crucial route to Tatopani, Nepal's northern border crossing with China in Sindhupalchok, as well as to neighboring districts like Dolakha and Ramechhap. The delay in its completion has forced travelers to endure dust, mud, traffic jams, and the risk of accidents.

The office plans to strengthen the road to accommodate the load capacity of cargo vehicles by first laying a 20-centimeter thick cement-mixed base over the gravel, followed by two layers of asphalt: DBM and asphalt concrete. Accidents involving injured passengers have occurred on the road sections that were dismantled for reconstruction due to the failure to complete the construction work on time.