Local demand maintenance of Postal Highway in Narainapur

BY SIRAJ KHAN,Nepalgunj, Oct. 2: Banke locals have been facing difficulties while travelling daily as the road construction has not been completed near Sidhaniyaghat of the Rapti River under the Postal Highway in Kamdi of Banke.

An approximately one-kilometre stretch of road from Kamdi Milan Chowk to the Rapti Bridge has become extremely dilapidated with potholes, making travel very difficult. The residents are in trouble because the construction company has failed to complete the project on time.

Locals complained that despite repeated demands from the residents and representatives over a long period for the construction of this road section, the concerned authorities had shown no interest in accelerating the construction work. They claimed that the poor condition of the road had increased the risk of accidents and had caused severe difficulties for vehicular movement.

Istiyak Ahmad Shah, Chairman of Narainapur Rural Municipality, on Monday, announced that if the road was not constructed within seven days, he would stage a protest directly on the Postal Highway and even go on a hunger strike. 

He said that the poor state of the road had led to daily accidents and the repeated requests to expedite the construction had been ignored. 

“The contract for the Rapti Bridge and the road has been awarded but the work is progressing at a snail's pace. The road is full of potholes everywhere and accidents are happening daily.” he said, “We have repeatedly requested the Road Division Office in Banke to construct the road, but the road has not been built.”

Meanwhile, Lila Bhandari, head of the Postal Highway Directorate in Nepalgunj, said that discussions and consultations were ongoing with the chairman of Narainapur Rural Municipality to resolve the issue. He assured that the work would start immediately to gravel the road and make travel easier for passengers.

Narendra Bhatt, head of the Road Division Office in Nepalgunj, said that the locals had been suffering due to the dilapidated condition of the Hulaki Highway. He said that the construction work was moving at a slow pace due to negligence on the part of the construction company. He assured that the road would be constructed in three days in coordination with the Postal Highway Directorate.