Muglin-Pokhara road expansion drive: Demolition of structures in Dumre begins

Structures in Bandipur Rural Municipality-1, Dumre of Tanahun are being demolished as part of the Prithvi Highway expansion drive. A drive has begun to demolish houses and huts that were constructed within the road section. According to engineer of Muglin-Pokhara Road Project (Eastern Section) Bishnu Pandey, five houses of Dumre Bazaar – the main commercial hub of Bandipur and entry point to Lamjung district – are being razed now.

'The drive is underway to remove structures built within the road territory. As of now, five houses have been razed', he said, adding, 'All the structures constructed within the road scope would be gradually demolished'.

Most of the houses built long back in Dumre Bazaar were found within the road area. A plan was mooted to raze such structures by providing compensation. The eastern part includes Anbukhaireni rural municipality, Bandipur rural municipality and Byas municipality. Preparations are also being made to remove the structures built in Anbukhaireni and Byas. He further said that as many as 631 structures would be removed from the section. Compensation amounting to Rs 2.245 million would be distributed to the rightful owner. The Muglin-Pokhara Road Expansion Project has expedited its works in two sections. The eastern section from Anbukhaireni to Jamune has made 30 percent progress, the project sources said. Blacktopping has started in seven-kilometer section of Anbukhaireni. Project chief Narendra Subedi said that works have been expedited with a target to complete blacktopping of seven-kilometer in the current fiscal year. The expansion drive was initiated in the eastern section in April 2021 after contract signing for the same in January 2021. In the 41.45-km road section, three big and four small bridges would be constructed. The contract was awarded to China Communication Construction for the eastern section. The government this year has allocated a budget of Rs 5.42 million for the Muglin-Pokhara road expansion. The four-lane road is being constructed with the loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank. The contract of Rs 6 billion 231 million was signed for the eastern section while it was Rs 7 billion 44.6 million for the expansion of western section. The four-lane road section will have 20-25 meters on each side.