Ultimatum to clear encroachment on Jamunaha-Nepalgunj-Chisapani Highway

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, May 25: The Road Division Office, Nepalgunj has issued a 30-day ultimatum to remove all illegal structures built within the 33-kilometre Jamunaha–Nepalgunj–Chisapani highway stretch.

The notice applies to the stretch of road beginning at the Nepal-India border in Jamunaha, passing through Nepaljung and Kohalpur, and extending up to Chisapani Bazaar.  

Earlier, the office had been removing encroachments in phases, but this time it has directed the clearance of all illegal structures along the entire corridor of the Jamunaha–Nepalgunj–Kohalpur–Chisapani section.

According to Road Division Office Chief Narendra Prasad Bhatta, the notice instructs the removal of houses, sheds, stalls, small shops, carts, hoarding boards and construction materials built within the road boundary.

The boundary has been defined differently along various stretches. From Jamunaha to Ganeshman Chowk, and from Karkado Chowk to Kohalpur Bazaar and from Kohalpur to Chisapani Bazaar, a 25-metre clearance has been set on both sides from the road centre line.

For the section between Ganeshman Chowk and Karkado Chowk, and the central market area of Kohalpur, a 21-metre clearance has been set on both sides, officials said.

The office stated that under the Public Roads Act 2031, no permanent or temporary structures are allowed within national highway boundaries. It said encroachment has led to increasing road accidents, prompting the need to regulate the corridor.

If structures are not removed within 30 days, the Department of Roads will demolish them using its own equipment, and the cost will be recovered from the concerned individuals or organisations, the notice warned.

Meanwhile, Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City had recently begun removing encroachments in phases while constructing footpaths from BP Chowk to Dhamboji Chowk and from Dhamboji Chowk to Pushpalal Chowk.

Following the latest notice, encroachment eviction has begun in some areas, including the Dhamboji–Khajura road section, as locals have started clearing structures themselves.