HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Kathmandu-Makwanpur Route
Two more roads with many hopes

By Our Correspondent

Phakhel (Makwanpur), Feb.13: With two new roads completing the link between Kathmandu and Makwanpur, people have now an alternative and shorter route to travel in and out of the capital.

The Bhainse-Bhimfedi-Chitlang-Thankot road, also called Ganeshman Singh road, and the Kulekhani-Phakhel-Pharping road came into operation since January.

These two alternative roads that link the Capital with the rest of the country have boosted commercial activities and exposed potentials for the promotion of tourism in the areas.

"After the opening of these roads, new markets for the local products have come up and movement of people has increased," said Dhiraj Lama of Phakhel Village Development Committee, Ward No.4, and Purundi.

The construction works of the Kulekhani-Phakhel-Pharping road had begun eight years back. Twenty nine kilometers—18 km in Makwanpur district and 11 km in Kathmandu district—of the 76 km road is yet to be blacktopped. Now-a-days light vehicles can frequent between Kathmandu and Hetauda within three hours along the road.

Link Roads

Kathmandu and Makwanpur District Development Committees, Rural Infrastructure Development Programme, Plan International Nepal, Kulekhani Hydro Power Project and Phakhel VDC have invested 10 million rupees in the construction of the road. The local people have also contributed their labour free of cost to the construction of the road.

The alternative road is shorter by 40 kilometres than the Tribhuvan Highway and by 100 kilometres than the Prithvi Highway.

"Since the movement of traffic was often obstructed along the Prithvi and the Tribhuvan Highways during the monsoon and the construction of Kanti Highway is still at its initial stage, it will be better to develop this road as an optional road to link Kathmandu with Hetauda," said Ishwor Dhungana of the Infrastructure Development Programme Office of Makwanpur DDC.

Due to frost in winter and rainfall in summer the Mahalaxmi-Purundi portion of the road becomes steep and makes the journey risky.

If the Kalanki-Hanumanbhanjyang portion of the road is widened and graveled and a concrete bridge constructed over Mahalaxmi stream, the road could be operated in all seasons, said officer Dhungana.

With the publicity of the alternative road in the media, pressures of motorcycles, cars and mountain bikes have increased along the road.

Even the people without their own vehicles enjoy the highland journey by using rented vehicles.

Among the people using the roads, some come for boating in the Indrasarovar lake and for fresh fish from Kulekhani. Many others come over to observe the beautiful and historically important places like Chisapanigadi and Chitlang.

"The road has enhanced the importance of the northern belt of Makwanpur district as well as giving a boost to economic activities there," said Ram Prasad Pradhan, a hotel owner of Markhu.

"If we continue the road’s operation, it will help explore markets for farm and animal produces and support the promotion of cottage and tourism industries," Ram Krishna Thapa, the programme officer of Makwanpur DDC said.

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