Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: A total of 55 kilometres of roads have been blacktopped so far under the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s pride programme ‘Dustless Road’.

The cost of the program is Rs 2.52 billion for three years. This program is a multi-year plan to make the roads dust-free by improving the infrastructure. It is estimated that around Rs 1 billion will be spent every year for this.

The program is implemented by the Public Works Department based on the demand received from the wards, filling the potholes, repairing the roads, blacktopping and slopes as per the need, and repairing the sewerage. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 2.99 billion. In a package divided into 4 parts, Kathmandu has been given the responsibility of working to those selected in the competition through the public procurement process.

In the eastern part of the district, ward no. There are 7 wards: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 31 and 32. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 90 crore. The mandate amount from the public procurement process is Rs 79.57 crore. Worldwide-Kohinoor-Ramita JV has been entrusted with the responsibility of the work. The agreement with the construction side was signed on September 30, 2081. The agreement is valid till mid-July 2083.

According to senior engineer Sandip Dhakal, focal person of the eastern part of the project, 18-km road has been blacktopped and 3.5-km road has been constructed so far. Under the project, the inner road from Simaltar, Patitar, Naya Basti, Tinchuli Arubari to Bouddha has been blacktopped. Similarly, roads in Putali area of ward no 9, Mahadevsthan Koteshwor of ward 32, corridor from Balkumari bridge to Dovan bridge and roads inside Pepsicola planning have been blacktopped.

Similarly, various internal roads in Suryakot and Gairi villages have been blacktopped.

The western region comprises wards 13, 14, 15 and 16. An agreement has been signed with PR K&KG, G&Ambuja for Rs 65.57 crore. The cost of the project was estimated at Rs 74.99 crore. The construction side has been given a work order on April 19, 2082. The deadline for this work is till mid-April 2084.

According to senior engineer Madhav Kafle, focal person of the program, this package is the last of the 4 packages and so far one and a half kilometers of road has been blacktopped. About 8 kilometers of the road is being improved.

The 1,160-metre long road from Balaju Bypass to Balaju Chowk via Balaju Park, Ward No. 13, 14, 15 and 16 areas under Bishnumati Corridor, Kuleshwor Teku Road, Bhagwati Temple (Kumari Club), Kuleshwor Link Road, Sheetala School to Nagarik Bazaar Chowk (Jamacho Marg), Sorhakhutte Paknazol, Chaksibari to JP Chowk, Kuleshwor Fruit Bazaar, The road from Ganesh Temple of Balaju Height to Nagarjun Wall, Sheetala Marg to Pahiha Link Road, Uma Maheshwar Marg, Rabi Bhawan and service track of Balkhu will be constructed.

In the northern region, ward no. They are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 26, 28, 29, and 30. Dhukuchu-RA JV has been awarded the contract for the construction of the project as per the public tender notice inviting for the work in this area. The contract with the construction side was signed on June 23, 2081. The agreement is valid till mid-July 2083. The project is estimated to cost Rs 90 crore and an agreement of Rs 73 crore has been signed through the public procurement process.

Dhakal is the focal person of the eastern region as well. According to him, 23 kilometers of road has been blacktopped in the area. 3 kilometers of the road has been subsided. Durbar Marg, Naxal Nagpokhari, Hattisar and Kamaladi areas of ward-1, inner roads of Bansbari and Maharajgunj areas of ward-3, Baluwatar, Chundevi and inner roads of Bishalnagar of ward-4 and internal roads of Dhumbarahi and Sukedhara have been blacktopped.

Internal roads of Mitranagar of Ward-26, Mhepi area, Advaita Marg and Bajrabir Marga of ward-28, Ghattekulo road of ward-29, Shahid Marg, Radhe Marg, Devi Marg, Gurju Marg and Dhobidhara road of ward-30 have been blacktopped.

In the central region, the inner wards, ward no. 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 27. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 45 crore. Aryal-USG-RS Laxmi JV has been awarded the contract for the construction of the project. The agreement was signed with the construction side on June 29, 2081. The agreement is valid till mid-June, 2084.

A total of 4.5 kilometers of road has been blacktopped in the area. Focal person of the area, engineer Samir Adhikari, said that 1.2 kilometers of the road has been paved and 1.5 kilometers of road has been laid with stone. The blacktopping has been done at Surya Marga, Samitimarg, Prison Road and Kumari Samiti Road in Ward No. 11, Bishnumati corridor touching Ward No. 12, 17, 18, 19 and 20, Pachali Bhairav Marg and Pachali Bhairav Complex in Ward No. 12, Ikhapokhari Chhetrapati Road and Chhetrapati Dhalku Road in Ward No. 17 and Jyatha Road in Ward No. 27.

Likewise, the road has been constructed at Bhotebahal Pipalbot Road in Ward No. 11, Teku Transfer Station in Ward No. 12 and Banshighat Road, which touches both wards.

After this, the work of blacktopping the river corridor in ward no 11, drainage and road construction in ward no 21 and stone printing work will begin in ward no 23 and 27.