Kathmandu, September 21
The government has begun studying a tunnel or viaduct as a long-term solution to landslides and road disruptions at Krishnabhir along the Prithvi Highway.
Speaking at a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee on Monday, Department of Roads Director General Dr Bijay Jaishi said technical studies were underway on two options for addressing the recurring problem at Krishnabhir.
According to Jaishi, the options being studied are to construct a tunnel through the Krishnabhir area or build a viaduct further ahead to connect the road. He said the technical study had already begun and a technical report was expected within about two months.
The Department of Roads plans to begin the tendering process for construction after the technical report is prepared.
“Studies have already begun on two long-term options at Krishnabhir—digging a tunnel through the area or connecting the road by constructing a viaduct further ahead,” Jaishi told the committee. “The technical report will come in about two months. After that, we will proceed with the tendering process.”
Traffic along the Prithvi Highway has repeatedly been disrupted by landslides at Krishnabhir. Most recently, the road was damaged by the impact of the Bhotekoshi-Rasuwa flood on Bhadra 10. A section of the road at Krishnabhir was damaged on Bhadra 14.
As an immediate measure, authorities have opened a track above the damaged section to allow vehicles to pass. Jaishi said the department was also working on an alternative road to reduce the risk in the long term while addressing the immediate problem.
He said work had already begun on an alternative route that would take the road across the bridge towards Fishling and Benighat. According to him, work to cut through about 1.5 kilometres of hillside towards Fishling has started.
The department expects the alternative route to allow traffic to operate even when problems occur along the main section of the Prithvi Highway.
“Work to cut through 1.5 kilometres of hillside towards Fishling has already started,” Jaishi said. “Once this section is completed, the route can be brought into operation quickly if the highway continues to cause problems.”
