Drive to demolish roadside structures begins in Birgunj

By Deepak Prasad Gautam,Birgunj (Parsa), Apr. 20: Demolition of structures built within 25 metres on either side of the road under the Tribhuvan Highway in the Birgunj Metropolitan area began early Sunday morning.

The Hetauda Road Division Office deployed around a dozen bulldozers and excavators to remove houses and sheds constructed by encroaching on the road section from Gandak to the Miteri Bridge customs area. The operation started at around 5:30 am.

According to Rajkumar Aryal, a first class non-gazetted officer at the Road Division Office, the demolition drive was launched in line with a prior Supreme Court verdict and a decision of the federal government.

Birgunj Metropolitan City Mayor Rajesh Man Singh said the metropolis had extended all necessary support to the Department of Roads for the road expansion project.

Engineer Bhola Sah of the Hetauda Road Division Office informed that around 1,200 houses and sheds built on encroached land would need to be demolished to widen the main road from Gandak Chowk to Miteri Bridge to meet national highway standards of 25 metres on both sides.

The campaign to remove encroachments includes 29 government office buildings as well as approximately 1,200 privately owned structures. The operation is being carried out under the security of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and municipal police.

The District Administration Office, Parsa, had issued a notice on Saturday evening directing the removal of all structures within the road area—from the Nepal-India Miteri Bridge to Gandak Canal Chowk—by 4:30 am Sunday. However, affected homeowners complained that they were not given even 24 hours’ notice, calling the demolition unjust.

Following the notice, shopkeepers in the market area began moving their goods on Saturday evening, with most completing the process overnight.

The Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the government on March 12, 2025, regarding the expansion of Birgunj’s main road. About 13 months after the verdict, the demolition of encroaching structures has finally begun.