NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Rolling Ahead

Unlike their popular image as sluggish workers, road department raises many eye-brows by their quick work on the eve of SAARC Summit

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

It took them more than six months to complete the expansion of around a kilometer of road stretching to the west of the old Bus Park. And it is taking them less than a month to complete the renovation of 30 kilometers of roads within the valley.

What is it with our government, the road department and the general worker that make them unbelievably indolent at times and unimaginably energetic at others?

Bull-dozers levelling illegal buildings in Tinkune: Fast work

Just as the 11th SAARC Summit approaches, the army of road-makers and municipal workers seem busy everywhere. While a group of them are leveling the Jamal section to widen the road there, another group is busy bringing down illegally constructed houses in Tinkune.

More of them are busy at different parts of the capital valley black-topping and smoothening the rough roads -- less the VIP guests scoff when they set their feet there.

Going by their efficiency, ordinary people are murmuring that Kathmandu be a host to SAARC Summit every year. "That way we wonít have to put up with the roads with potholes that resemble swimming pools after a brief shower," said Sunil Bista, a Kathmanduite.

According to a high official from the Department of Road, they have already completed more than one-third of their work. Amount to the tune of Rs 120 million had been ear-marked for the renovation of city roads.

Along with the road construction and renovation, the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is also busy trying to build gardens in Tinkune and Maitighar section as a part of its city beautification project before the SAARC Summit.

Despite their welcoming the SAARC Summit, the residents of Kathmandu fear the traffic problems. Already congested, the valley will literally tear at its seams while playing host to not one, not two but seven VVIP guests. Already there is a talk of restricting the entry of big vehicles like buses within the ring road during the summit days. The traffic police is also considering to allow public vehicles like taxis and micro-buses to ply on alternate days depending on their even or odd registration number.

Meanwhile, as just a little over two weeks remain before the SAARC summit opens in Kathmandu, the road department still has a lot to do if it wishes to complete its responsibility. The department has to renovate roads running from the hotels where the VVIP guests stay to the conference centers as well as the roads leading to tourist centers.

Till now, the department has finished renovating the sections at Sinamangal-Putalisadak, Tilganga-Golf Ground, Dhumbarahi-Mandikhatar, Bagbazar-Putalisadak-Exhibition Road, Soaltee-Grand Hotel, Maharajgunj-Bansbari, Pashupati-Guheshwori and Royal Palace southern gate.

Still the roads to Gokarna, Nagarkot, Swayambhu and those leading to big hotels remain to be renovated. According to Dr. Hare Krishna Bhagat, chief of road division office, Minbhawan, they can complete the remaining work within the next 15 days. Although it appears that their target of completing the renovation of around 20 kilometers in as many days seems ambitious to meet, the speed in which they are working makes one optimistic.