Jorpati-Sundarijal road project comes to halt with detection of COVID case

25 May Kathmandu : The Jorpati-Sundarijal road widening works have come to a halt with the detection of a COVID-19 case at Gokarneshwor municipality-4.

Though the project was resumed after a month of the coronavirus lockdown enforced since March 24, it was again ceased after a 58-year-old local was tested positive for the virus. It is said security measures were taken to resume the construction works.

Now, the Gokarneshwor-4 has been sealed off until the contact tracing of those coming into touch with the infected is done and their tests are conducted, according to ward chair Shree Kumar Shrestha.

The case was detected on May 19, leading to the suspension of widening drive at most parts. However, works to build a wall at some portions of ward no 1 continue to take place.

The seven-kilometer road project had to be completed last fiscal year if the plan was something to go by. The project was delayed due to protest of locals who had their houses along the roadsides. The road is being widened up to 11 meters on both sides from the center.

Municipality’s spokesperson Manoj Kumar Dhungana shared that it was agreed to expand the road by seven meters each on both sides from the centre point in the housing area and 11-metre each in public spaces when around 900 households along the seven kilometers of the roadside demanded compensation if the widening drive is to be advanced as per the contract.

The road widening drive which resumed with the agreement to complete by the end of the current fiscal year 2076/77 BS seems to be incomplete. The trees along the route were removed amidst lockdown but other structures such as electric poles and wires are yet to be cleared off.

Shyam Tamang, a local, complained that they would be compelled to travel through awkward roads this year too due to prolonged road widening drive.