Traffic jam held demanding restoration of damaged roads

Kathmandu – A chakkajam(forced traffic jam) was held along the Chabahil-Bouddha-Jorpati-Sankhu-Sundarijal route here this morning, demanding the restoration of damaged roads instantly. 

Poor conditions of roadways have posed a threat of encroachment to the Bouddhanath Stupa area, the site included in the UNESCO world heritage list, and because of this, a monument protected by the Boudhanath Development Area is likely to get removed, it is said. 

The traffic jam was needed to be imposed to mount pressure on authorities concerned to take timely measures to address the issues, said the Samata Human Rights and Civil Society. 

Poor road infrastructure for years has caused inconveniences to commuters. It turns dusty in winter and muddy during monsoon. 

During monsoon, ambulances en route to Nepal Medical College, Shankarapur Hospital and Stupa Community Hospital via this route normally get trapped into water potholes, depriving patients of timely treatment. Locals said they were forced to organise a chakkajam as their protest against those people in responsible positions who continue to turn blind eyes to the situation. 

Society chair Norsang Sherpa told the RSS that the today's protest was meant for drawing the attention of authorities concerned towards inconveniences facing the people due to wretched conditions of road. 

Locals have formed a (pressure) group to exert pressure to the authorities to address the problem. It had earlier held a street meeting, paddy transplantation on road and a gathering of poets as its symbolic protests against the government's apathy to their issues.---