Road Widening Work Completed at Ghopte Bhir on Prithvi Highway

Chitwan. The task of cutting the cliff at Ghopte Bhir has been completed as part of the Nagdhunga-Malekhu road upgrade on the Prithvi Highway. The work was carried out by closing the road to traffic during the night for six days.

According to Sachendra Mishra, Information Officer for the Muglin-Malekhu section under the Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project, a 250-meter stretch of the cliff at Ghopte Bhir was cut. The road has been widened by an additional four meters by cutting the cliff from about 50 meters above, bringing the total road width to 12 meters.

The work was conducted from Chait 17 to 22, between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM. Information Officer Mishra stated that three excavators, two loaders, 10 tippers, and a corresponding number of personnel were mobilized. Additionally, he noted that half of the work on cutting another cliff located on the road to Ramailo Danda from Manakamana Cable Car has been completed, with plans to expand a 70-meter section there.

Mishra mentioned that since it is difficult to close the road for long periods, work at the next site will proceed once the current phase is finalized. Overall, 41 percent of the road expansion work has been completed. Currently, tasks such as blacktopping, preparation for paving, drain construction, and wall installation are underway.

The contract for this road was signed on Poush 15, 2079 BS, with a three-year completion deadline. Due to delays, the contract period has been extended by six months. The Muglin-Nagdhunga section of the Prithvi Highway was tendered in three phases.

The current work area falls under the third phase, covering 38.86 kilometers. Of this section, 2.2 kilometers will be six lanes, while 7.2 kilometers will be four lanes, covering areas including Malekhu, Benighat, Muglin, Ramailo Danda, Kurintar, Fisling, Chumling, Majhimtar, Charaudi, and Bishaltar. A three-lane 'climbing' lane will be constructed on the steep sections, spanning 2.3 kilometers, with the remainder of the road being two lanes.

Sharma-ZICG is carrying out the upgrade work at a cost of Rs 4.80 billion and 59 million. Remaining tasks include blacktopping, drain construction, landslide prevention structures, cliff cutting, wall installation, and road safety measures. This road, being built with World Bank assistance, serves as a primary gateway for traffic entering and exiting Kathmandu.