Kathmandu, September 2
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has decided to open a new track above Krishnabhir to restore traffic along the Prithvi Highway.
A meeting held on Tuesday to discuss the immediate operation of the highway and short- and long-term solutions decided to begin work immediately to restore the supply chain between the disaster-affected areas and Kathmandu.
Under the plan, a structure will be built above the gabion breast wall at Krishnabhir to allow vehicles to pass. Sacrificial gabion boxes will also be installed, while boulders will be dropped down from the hillside as part of the effort to create a temporary route.
For a long-term solution, the Department of Roads will study options including a tunnel, soil nailing and sheet piling at Krishnabhir.
The ministry has also decided to immediately study the possibility of constructing a tunnel or bypass road as an alternative to the current section and establish an alternative road by the end of the current fiscal year.
The Nepal Geotechnical Society will provide technical expertise for the studies and, if necessary, sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Roads.
The highway section at Krishnabhir was severely damaged after the Bhote Koshi flood caused the Trishuli River to swell and eroded the road from below, disrupting a key route into Kathmandu.
