ITAHARI, Dec 22: The government is preparing to upgrade four major roads into six-lane motorways. The Department of Roads (DoR) has informed that a section of the Koshi Highway connecting Dharan-Rani (Biratnagar) and the Bhairawa-Butwal road, Pathlaiya-Birgunj road and Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road will be widened to six-lane roads.
According to Pramila Bajracharya, manager of Assets Management, Contract Management and Quality Control Project (ACQMP) at the DoR, the budget for widening the 50-km Dharan-Rani road was allocated in the last fiscal year itself, but the allotted amount was used for other purposes as the right of way could not be settled.
The road section from Sonapur to Duhabi of Sunsari is too congested and drainage construction along the road could not be completed on time, according to Bajracharya.
For the construction of the six-lane road, 25 meters on both sides from the centre point should be cleared.
According to Bajracharya, as per an earlier plan, Dharan-Rani road widening was to start from this year but that could not happen due to bureaucratic delays.
She also informed that the road expansion will start soon after all ostructing structures are cleared.
Along the Sonapur road, around 40 houses have been built allegedly by encroaching the public land. Likewise, the road along Dhuhabi Bajar is too narrow.
Also, the road from Bhairawa to Butwal is in the process of widening.
The estimated cost for the road widening drive has been estimated at Rs 3.5 billion.
Bajracharya said that the government of Japan has been approached for financial support for widening the road from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel.
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