Mugling-Pokhara road to be closed four hours daily till Nov. 27

By Amar raj Naharki,Tanahun, Nov. 23: Traffic along the Mugling–Pokhara section of the Prithvi Highway will remain closed for four hours daily until November 27 due to girder launching work at the under-construction bridge over the Bijaypur Khola in Pokhara. 

The road—one of the country’s main transport corridors- will be fully or partially shut from 6 to 8 am and 12 to 2 pm, with authorities urging the use of alternative routes.

According to project chief Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, traffic may be allowed to pass every 30 minutes depending on the situation. Two-wheelers and smaller vehicles may use the Budi Bazaar–Belchautara–Chauthe route, while heavy vehicles must take the Powerhouse Chowk–Bagmara–Birauta road in Lekhnath.

The Mugling–Pokhara Road Project is upgrading the strategic highway that links the federal capital, Kathmandu, with the tourism hub of Pokhara and visible improvements have begun to emerge along the route.

Significant progress has been recorded on the Pokhara–Jamune (west) section, where road widening and blacktopping works have advanced notably. 

Out of the 38 km stretch, 37 km has already been blacktopped on one side, making travel smoother and safer, according to local residents, traders, and daily commuters.

Shuklagandaki Municipality Mayor Krishna Raj Pandit said traffic has become much easier with most of the blacktopping completed.

Project engineer Sahanashila Kayastha reported that the overall physical progress has reached 59.89 per cent, while financial progress stands at 47.80 per cent. 

So far, 29.61 km of road has been upgraded to four lanes and 7.79 km to two lanes. Second-layer asphalt has been completed on 18.8 km of two-lane road, and 3.04 km of service lanes have been blacktopped. An additional 14 km of blacktopping is expected to be completed within the current fiscal year.

Culvert and bridge construction have been moving forward simultaneously. Of the 105 culverts, most have been completed, while 11 of the 12 bridges in the western section are finished. Work on the bridge over the Seti River in Pokhara has achieved 51.61 per cent physical progress. All four pile caps and 120 piles required for the bridge have been constructed, pushing the work ahead rapidly.

Around 600 workers are deployed daily for road, bridge, blacktopping, drainage, and structural works, providing up to 18,000 labour opportunities per month, according to the project office. 

Twenty technical consultants have been mobilised to ensure efficient project execution.

As per the plan, six-lane roads will be built in Setipul–Lower Gagangauda in Pokhara and in Dulegauda and Khairenitar of Tanahun, while other sections will feature a modern four-lane highway. Of the targeted 51.5 km of drainage construction, 45.2 km has already been completed.

However, some obstacles have slowed progress, including structures linked to the Pokhara International Airport, delays in relocating water supply structures, piezometric systems, tree felling permits and issues with removing permanent structures. 

Work has also halted north of the Seti bridge area due to unresolved relocation of three houses, including that of the Magar community.

The project, contracted on May 17, 2021, aims to complete the remaining work by December 31. Although temporary road closures may cause inconvenience, the project office says the upgrading works are advancing rapidly and travellers can expect a safer, modern highway in the near future.