Traffic Volume Increases on Prithvi Highway After Alternative Route Opens

Kathmandu. Traffic volume has increased on the highway after an alternative route was constructed by cutting the road in the Krishna Bhir area along the Prithvi Highway and bringing it into operation. Traffic on the highway has gradually become smoother since both sides of the Krishna Bhir area came into operation from October 1. The Prithvi Highway was obstructed due to landslides and road cutting in the Krishna Bhir area caused by the floods of the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers on September 10. Traffic coming and going to various parts of the country including Kathmandu was affected due to the obstruction of the highway. Since the main road was damaged, passengers and freight vehicles had to use an alternative route. After the road was obstructed, the concerned bodies immediately started the work of constructing an alternative road and cutting the road. The road has been brought into operation by expanding and repairing the road in the risk-prone hilly area. With the completion of the alternative road construction, vehicles that were stopped and those plying through other routes have started returning to the Prithvi Highway. With both sides of the road coming into operation, the movement of private vehicles, public transport, and freight vehicles on the highway has increased. The volume of traffic has been observed in various sections of the highway with the regular operation of long-distance vehicles. Although the road is in operation, there is still a risk in the damaged road area due to floods and landslides, so caution needs to be exercised while operating vehicles. Especially in places where the road surface has weakened due to rain and there is a risk of landslides, drivers need to control their speed while traveling. Local residents and transport entrepreneurs have stated that further work is needed to permanently reconstruct the damaged structures and make the road fully safe and reliable, even though the road is in operation. Although traffic is being operated through an alternative road for now, permanent reconstruction with technical study of the damaged road and surrounding structures is necessary for a long-term solution. The reopening of the road in the Krishna Bhir area is considered important from the perspective of traffic convenience as the Prithvi Highway is an important route connecting the capital Kathmandu with various districts and major commercial centers of the country. With the operation of the road, the obstruction in the transportation of passengers and goods has decreased, and the volume of traffic on the highway has also increased.