Nagdhunga-Naubise-Malekhu Road Blacktopping Resumes Amidst Material Shortage

Kathmandu. The blacktopping (pitching) work that was halted in the Dharke Bazaar area of Dhading, along the Nagdhunga-Naubise-Malekhu road section, which is the main lifeline entering Kathmandu, has resumed. The work on this important road expansion and bridge construction had been affected for a long time due to the halt in bitumen import caused by the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. According to road construction entrepreneur Sahadev Khadka, the work on the road, which had almost stopped due to the lack of bitumen, has been restarted with a slight improvement in imports. Currently, blacktopping is being prioritized in very sensitive areas with high vehicle traffic. However, businessman Khadka stated that even though raw materials are available after a long wait, it is difficult to give the work the expected pace due to adverse weather (rain). This road section is the busiest route connecting the federal capital Kathmandu with the eastern and western parts of the country. Due to the lack of blacktopping on this road, which is used by thousands of vehicles daily, passengers and local residents were suffering from dust in winter and mud during the monsoon. The global supply chain of construction materials such as petroleum products and bitumen has been disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle Eastern countries, directly impacting many development construction projects in Nepal. Local businessmen and the general public have felt some relief as the work of blacktopping the bridge and road in the Dharke Bazaar area has gained momentum.