Efforts on to clear debris on roadways, resume traffic: Transport Ministry

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has directed its subordinate agencies to resume the roads blocked and disrupted by the landslides and river erosions following the downpour.

Spokesperson at the Ministry, Sunil Babu Dhakal, shared that they were making all-out efforts to re-operate 41 roads in different districts. These roadways witnessed disruptions in 64 places with damages caused by rain-triggered landslides and floods on Saturday.

Dhakal said they had directed the agencies to repair roads with minor damages so as to bring the halted traffic movement into operation by the late-night Sunday.

The Ministry, according to him, had emphasized removal of debris and other obstructions on the roads including major highways. The subordinate bodies were asked to submit reports outlining an action-plan for prompt repair of the flood and landslide-damaged road projects with alternative solutions to consider if immediate repairs were not feasible, he mentioned.

Similarly, DSP Rabin Karki at the Metropolitan Traffic Police, Kathmandu noted that problems persisted in operation of traffic on the roads having many defects at Nagpokhari along with river corridors in the Kathmandu Valley itself.

Removal of soil and sand from the roads on the corridors is underway, he said, adding that all checkpoints entering into the Kathmandu Valley were currently closed.

He reported that the road in Kavrebhangyang road section under the BP Highway sustained damages while the road towards Dolalghat is not operational yet.

Wiping out landslide debris on the road along the Prithivi Highway is ongoing, according to him. Initially, roads were disrupted in around 100 places but by now roads at 40 places have been reopened, according to the Ministry.

Stating that there was no discomfort in traffic management within the Valley at present, Spokesperson Dhakal said that necessary arrangements were put in place for swift resumption of traffic movements on all roads across the country in view of approaching festivals.