अधुरै रह्यो सूर्यविनायक–धुलिखेल सडकको काम, हटेन धूलो–हिलो र जाम (तस्बिरहरु)

काठमाडौँ । अरनिको राजमार्गअन्तर्गतको सूर्यविनायक–धुलिखेल सडक विस्तार आयोजनाको काम अझै पूर्ण हुनसकेको छैन । तीन वर्षअघि सुरु गरिएको १६ किलोमिटर लामो यस सडकलाई ६ लेनमा विस्तार गर्ने कार्य अहिले पनि जारी रहेकाले दैनिक यात्रु, स्थानीय बासिन्दा तथा व्यवसायीले धूलो, हिलो र जामको समस्या खेपिरहेका छन् ।

भक्तपुरको सूर्यविनायकदेखि काभ्रेपलाञ्चोकको धुलिखेलसम्म फैलिएको यो सडक खण्डलाई दुई प्याकेजमा विभाजन गरेर निर्माण भइरहेको छ । पहिलो खण्ड सूर्यविनायक–साँगा र दोस्रो खण्ड साँगा–धुलिखेल रहेको छ । आयोजनाअनुसार हालसम्म समग्र भौतिक प्रगति करिब ७० प्रतिशत पुगेको छ । केही महिनाअघि यो प्रगति ६७ प्रतिशत रहेको थियो भने त्यसअघि ५० प्रतिशत हाराहारीमा मात्रै सीमित थियो ।

आयोजनाले मुख्य सडक, सर्भिस लेन, नाला, पुल, कल्भर्ट तथा अण्डरपास निर्माणको कामलाई तीव्रता दिएको जनाएको छ । विशेषगरी साँगा क्षेत्रमा निर्माण भइरहेको अण्डरपास अहिले आयोजनाको मुख्य आकर्षण बनेको छ । यो अण्डरपास निर्माण सम्पन्न भएपछि पूर्वी नाकाबाट काठमाडौँ प्रवेश गर्ने सवारीको चाप व्यवस्थापनमा सहज हुने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ ।

यद्यपि निर्माणको गति भने अपेक्षाअनुसार अघि बढ्न सकेको छैन । निर्माण सामग्रीको अभाव, मूल्यवृद्धि, वर्षायाममा काम प्रभावित हुनु, विद्युत् पोल तथा खानेपानी पाइप सार्ने कार्यमा ढिलाइ हुनुजस्ता कारणले आयोजना पटक–पटक प्रभावित हुँदै आएको छ । आयोजनाले सुरुआती सम्झौताअनुसार ३६ महिनाभित्र काम सम्पन्न गर्ने लक्ष्य राखेको थियो । तर निर्धारित समयभित्र काम पूरा हुने सम्भावना न्यून देखिएको छ ।

हाल सूर्यविनायक, जगाती, ठिमी, नलिञ्चोक, साँगा र बनेपा आसपासका क्षेत्रमा सडक विस्तारको काम सँगसँगै कालोपत्रे, ढल तथा सर्भिस लेन निर्माण भइरहेको छ । केही स्थानमा कालोपत्रे सम्पन्न भइसकेकाले सडक चिटिक्क देखिन थालेको छ भने धेरै स्थानमा सडक भत्काएर छाडिएका कारण यात्रुले सास्ती खेपिरहेका छन् । धूलोका कारण स्थानीय बासिन्दामा स्वास्थ्य समस्या बढेको गुनासो समेत आउने गरेको छ । वर्षा हुँदा हिलो र घाम लाग्दा धूलोको समस्या चरम हुने गरेको स्थानीय बताउँछन् ।

सडक विस्तार सम्पन्न भएपछि काठमाडौँ उपत्यका र पूर्वी नेपालबीचको यातायात सहज हुने विश्वास गरिएको छ । दैनिक हजारौँ सवारी साधन गुड्ने यो सडक खण्ड व्यापार, पर्यटन तथा पूर्वी जिल्लासँगको सम्पर्कका लागि अत्यन्त महत्वपूर्ण मानिन्छ । विस्तारपछि सवारी चाप कम हुनुका साथै यात्रा समय छोटिने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ ।

हाल आयोजनाले आगामी महिनाभित्र थप केही खण्डमा कालोपत्रे सम्पन्न गर्ने लक्ष्य लिएको जनाएको छ । तर निर्माणको सुस्त गति, ट्राफिक व्यवस्थापनको चुनौती र बजेट व्यवस्थापनका कारण सर्वसाधारणले अझै केही समय सास्ती खेप्नुपर्ने अवस्था देखिएको छ ।

Kathmandu. The Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road expansion project along the Araniko Highway is not yet complete. The work to expand the 16-kilometer-long road to six lanes, which was started three years ago, is still ongoing, causing problems for daily commuters, local residents, and businessmen with dust, mud, and traffic jams.

This road section, which extends from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchok, is being constructed in two packages. The first section is Suryabinayak-Sanga and the second section is Sanga-Dhulikhel. According to the project, the overall physical progress has reached about 70 percent so far. A few months ago, this progress was 67 percent, while before that it was limited to only about 50 percent.

The project has accelerated the construction of main roads, service lanes, drains, bridges, culverts and underpasses. The underpass under construction in the Sanga area has become the main attraction of the project. Once the underpass is completed, it is expected to ease the management of traffic entering Kathmandu from the eastern border.

However, the pace of construction has not been as expected. The project has been repeatedly affected by reasons such as shortage of construction materials, price hike, work being affected during the rainy season, and delays in moving electricity poles and drinking water pipes. The project had set a target of completing the work within 36 months as per the initial agreement. However, the chances of completing the work within the stipulated time are slim.

Currently, road expansion work is underway in the areas around Suryabinayak, Jagati, Thimi, Nalinchowk, Sanga and Banepa, along with the construction of blacktop, drainage and service lanes. As blacktop has been completed in some places, the roads are starting to look neat, but in many places, the roads have been demolished and abandoned, causing inconvenience to commuters. There have also been complaints of increased health problems among local residents due to dust. Locals say that the problem of dust is extreme during rains and mud during the sun.

It is believed that the road expansion will ease traffic between the Kathmandu Valley and eastern Nepal after its completion. This road section, which carries thousands of vehicles daily, is considered very important for trade, tourism, and connectivity with the eastern districts. After the expansion, it is expected to reduce traffic congestion and shorten travel time.

The project currently aims to complete the blacktop in a few more sections within the coming months. However, due to the slow pace of construction, traffic management challenges, and budget management, the general public will have to suffer for some time.