Safety audit on Muglin-Pokhara road begins

Kaski, June 2: A road safety audit has begun on the Muglin-Pokhara section of the Prithvi Highway, a major route connecting Pokhara with the federal capital Kathmandu, following a rise in road accidents.

According to Muglin-Pokhara Project Chief Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, the audit has been launched in response to increasing traffic volume and accident risks along the Highway, which is currently undergoing an upgrade and expansion project. 

The road expansion work is in its final phase, with blacktopping on the four-lane Highway largely completed. "As the road expansion and upgrading project nears completion, we have initiated a safety audit to prioritize the safety of road users," informed Kunwar.

During the audit, various safety aspects of the Highway, including road curves, intersections, bridges, signboards, dividers, street lighting, pedestrian movement, and accident-prone locations will be assessed, he added.

The project office stated that the safety audit is a part of the 100-point action plan pledged by the incumbent government for good-governance. 

The findings and recommendations from the audit will be implemented not only on the Muglin-Pokhara road but also in other roads and highways across the country, he added. 

Based on the audit report, authorities will adopt additional safety measures where necessary, including traffic signs, guardrails, speed-control mechanisms, and public awareness initiatives among others. 

The Muglin-Pokhara Highway is one of busiest road corridors of Nepal.

During the ongoing expansion works, travelers and drivers have faced difficulties due to construction materials, dust, pollution and temporary structures along sections of the road. 

As the monsoon season is approaching, concerns over landslides and traffic accidents have further increased. It has prompted the need for the safety audit, explained Kunwar. 

The western section of the Muglin-Pokhara Road Upgrading Project has been ongoing for five years. 

Despite multiple deadline extensions, the project remains incomplete. The western section covers a 38.71-kilometre stretch from Jamune in Tanahun district to Seti Bridge in Pokhara.

The project deadline was extended for the third time last December and is now set to expire on June 29 this year. 

Authorities shared that the project has achieved approximately 78 percent physical progress as of now. (RSS)