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In Gandaki Province, the Beni-Jomsom road has partially resumed operation after repairs to sections damaged by floods and landslides.
Kathmandu, Oct. 13: With Dashain festival approaching nearer, the government has intensified efforts to clear obstructed highways and repair flood-and landslide-damaged roads, mobilising resources and working round the clock to restore major road links and facilitate the safe and smooth movement of thousands of passengers travelling home for the festival.
Road workers and security personnel are busy clearing debris, repair damaged sections and construct temporary roads and bridges to restore connectivity before the festival. Although traffic has resumed on several major routes, some stretches remain vulnerable to river erosion, landslides and further flooding, raising concerns over passenger safety, according to Nepal Police Headquarters.
The Department of Roads has expedited restoration work on disaster-hit roads in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha, among other districts, to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods during the festive period, according to Deputy Director General and spokesperson for the Department, Shuvaraj Neupane.
The Prithvi Highway, a major route connecting Kathmandu with Pokhara and other western destinations, has resumed two-way traffic at Galaundi in Dhading after river erosion caused a section of the road to subside.
Workers cut into the hillside to create a temporary passage for vehicles. However, further work is required to strengthen the damaged section. Traffic is scheduled to remain suspended from 11:00 pm Monday until 5:00 am Tuesday to allow repairs to continue, the Department said.
It has also said the work is necessary to prevent vehicles from getting stuck in mud should rainfall resume. The highway carries more than 15,000 vehicles a day on average, making its uninterrupted operation particularly important during Dashain, said Neupane.
The BP Highway, another key route connecting Kathmandu with the eastern Tarai, has also resumed operation on the Kavrepalanchok side following flood damage and the destruction of temporary diversions. Vehicles are using a reconstructed track, although traffic management and further maintenance are required at narrow and damaged sections.
Similarly, the Galchhi-Syabrubesi road, which connects Dhading and Nuwakot with Rasuwa and the northern border, continues to face difficulties. Temporary repairs have restored traffic at several locations, but extensive reconstruction is still required along flood-damaged stretches towards Rasuwagadhi. On Sunday alone, an Acrow Bridge at Betrawati border point of Nuwakot and Rasuwa already came into operation.
In Gandaki Province, the Beni-Jomsom road has partially resumed operation after repairs to sections damaged by floods and landslides. Vehicles carrying goods from the Korala border have started moving towards their destinations, although muddy and damaged stretches continue to cause delays.
Bridges restored
The Maldhunga Bridge, connecting Parbat and Baglung districts along the Mid-Hill Highway, reopened on Monday morning after workers repaired its flood-damaged approach road.
Flooding in the Kaligandaki River on September 27 had eroded the approach road on the Parbat side, disrupting traffic along the highway ahead of Dashain.
Workers installed gabion walls and filled the eroded section with soil to restore access. Following the completion of repairs, vehicles stranded along the affected stretch have started moving towards their destinations.
During the closure, passengers had to cross the river on foot using the Gandaki Golden Suspension Bridge and other suspension bridges in Kushma before boarding vehicles on the opposite side to continue their journeys.
Meanwhile, a flash flood in the Budhigandaki River on Sunday morning damaged a motorable bridge connecting Arughat in Gorkha district with Dhading, severing road connectivity between the two districts.
One of the bridge's three spans was broken and swept away by the flood, disrupting vehicle movement along the route. The Nepali Army has begun preparations to install a Bailey bridge to restore connectivity from Monday, according to the Secrtariate of the Minister for Infrastructure Development.
Army personnel are clearing mud and debris from the site with the help of an excavator, while materials required for the Bailey bridge are being transported from the Road Division Office in Hetauda. Lieutenant Colonel Birodh Rijal, commander of the Nepali Army's Rudradhwaj Battalion, said construction would begin as soon as the materials arrived.
An Army team inspected the damaged bridge on Sunday to assess the situation and prepare for restoration.
The road leading to upper areas via Arughat has also been obstructed by mud and debris deposited by the flood. The Road Division Office is preparing to clear the accumulated material to resume traffic.
The flash flood has compounded transport difficulties in Gorkha, where damaged bridges and disrupted road connections have left some settlements difficult to access. Rescue and relief operations are continuing in the affected areas.
Passenger safety a concern
Disruptions along major highways have affected not only passenger movement but also the transportation of essential goods and livestock ahead of the festival. Delays and congestion have left vehicles stranded at several locations, raising concerns about possible supply shortages and price increases in urban markets.
Authorities have urged passengers to check road conditions before departure, allow additional time for travel and follow instructions issued by traffic police. Travellers have also been advised to exercise particular caution at night and along stretches vulnerable to landslides, river erosion and sudden flooding.
Pankaj Malla, general manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., which operates the New Bus Park at Balaju Machhapokhari, said that a total of 207,251 passengers had left Kathmandu from the New Bus Park alone between October 3 and 11.
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