Kathmandu. According to the Department of Roads, six highways across the country have been completely obstructed and one-way traffic is operating in 169 sections of the road at present. According to the Department, the vehicular movement has been obstructed due to floods and landslides in different places.

Department’s Spokesperson Prabhat Kumar Jha said works are underway to resume traffic on the Kathmandu-Dhulikhel-Dolalghat-Khadichaur-Kodari (Araniko Highway) until this evening. “Road improvement works are being carried out at a rapid pace for smooth and safe travel of the people going out of the valley and entering the valley during the Dashain festival”, he added.

He further informed that the Prithvi Highway, which was obstructed due to landslides, would remain closed for two hours today as the road was to be cleared on Sunday evening. According to the Department of Roads, the roads obstructed include Thori-Bhandara-Malekhu, Galchhi-Trishuli-Betrawati, Mailung-Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi. The highway has been obstructed due to the river eroding the road following the flood from the Chinese side on July 28. According to the Department, efforts are being made to open the obstructed road by using excavators and loaders.

Similarly, Rani-Biratnagar-Itahari-Dharan-Dhankuta-Hile, Leghuwaghat-Tumlingtar-Khandbari-Num-Kimathanka (Koshi Highway) have also been completely obstructed. Stating that the diversion was washed away in the Barun River and the construction of the bridge, the diversion could not be restored due to the rise in the water level, the Department said.

Similarly, the Chatra-Mulghat-Majhitar-Amarapurdanda-Ganesh Chowk (Tamor corridor) has also been completely disrupted. According to the Department, efforts are underway to reconstruct the Bailey Bridge constructed over the Tamor River after the flood triggered by incessant rainfall on July 6.

Similarly, the Thori-Bhandara-Malekhu, Galchhi-Trishuli-Betrawati-Mailung-Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road sections have also been obstructed due to the floods from China. According to the department, equipment has been mobilized to clear the obstructed road.

Similarly, Rani-Biratnagar-Itahari-Dharan-Dhankuta-Hile, Leghuwaghat-Tumlingtar-Khandbari-Num-Kimathanka and Kathmandu-Dhulikhel-Dolalghat-Khadichaur-Kodari (Araniko Highway) have been completely obstructed. According to the department, the highway is being improved.

Senior Vice-Chair of Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, Saroj Sitaula, stressed the need of facilitating conducive environment for vehicles returning from outside the Kathmandu Valley by completing the road improvement works soon.

Information Officer at the Department of Roads, Amit Kumar Sharma, said that four hundred thousand square meters of potholes need to be repaired across the country and works are being carried out to repair the roads. “Roads are being improved giving special priority to the highways with high pressure of traffic”, he shared.