Kanti Lokpath to resume two-way traffic today

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 9: The obstructed Kanti Lokpath is set to come into operation two-way by Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, a delegation of provincial and local representatives, including Udaya Shumsher JB Rana, Member of Parliament for Lalitpur Constituency No. 1, inspected the area.

During the inspection, engineer Sitaram Budhathoki of the Kanti Lokpath briefed the lawmakers that efforts were underway to clear the road with the help of the Department of Roads and the Nepali Army, and that the highway would be fully operational by Wednesday morning.

Budhathoki said that the damage was caused by heavy rains, floods, and landslides starting from September 27, resulting in the destruction of a 15.75-metre simple supported bridge, which created problems for traffic since then.

Engineer Budhathoki said that the flood washed away the bridge, road, and construction equipment, including pile-driving machines and 80 tonnes of reinforcements intended for the bridge’s construction.

“Not only was the bridge damaged, but the contractor had a new bridge contract to build 82-metre-long and 11-metre-wide bridge there under design and build project agreement. All the equipment, including pile-driving machines and 80 tonnes of reinforcements intended for the bridge construction, were also washed away by the flood,” said engineer Budhthoki. 

“We are currently working to open a temporary diversion with the help of the Department of Roads and the Nepali Army. We have set a target to finish by 3:00 PM today. It will take some time as there are difficulties in transporting materials with tippers. We will have the road open by tomorrow morning,” he said. 

The lawmakers have also inspected several roads in the Bagmati Rural Municipality and the Konjyosom Rural Municipality, Lalitpur.

Following the inspection, lawmaker Rana said that they also inspected the Kanti Lokpath, specifically noting that more than half of the bridge over the Baguwa River connecting Lalitpur and Makwanpur districts was severely damaged, making transportation difficult.

Currently, small vehicles are allowed to use the bridge. He also stated that traffic was set to resume in the Tikabhairav, Devi Chaur, and Ghusel areas. Rana estimated that between 600 to 800 houses in Lalitpur Constituency No. 1 have suffered total damage.