Keshav Adhikari

DHADING: Every year, a huge amount of fund is allocated for the Bhimdhunga-Lamidanda (Sitapaila-Galchhi) road but only a 45 kilometre stretch of the road has been completed in 28 years.

Construction of the 52-km road had started as an alternative route to Naubise –Nagdhgunga road as monsoon rains damage the latter road every year and disrupt vehicular movement.

With an aim to connect Sitapaila in Kathmandu with Galchhi in Dhading through Goganpani, Kewealpur, Jivanpur and Chhatredeurali, the road construction had started with support from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation around three decades ago.

Till now, the fund allocated by GATC, DDC, and budget from the Parliament Development Fund have crossed over Rs 200 million mark, local UCPN-Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Acharya said.

On the request of Dhading District Panchayat President Rajendra Pandey, the GATC had started constructing Sitapaila-Bhimdhunga road section and Dhadingbeshi-Salyantar road for ‘infrastructure development in the district’. Locals said vehicles ply on the Dhadingbeshi-Salyantar road except during monsoon season.

Ex-chairman of Goganpani VDC Bharat Tamang said vehicles ply up to Chakmake of Goganpani. Millions of rupees from state coffers have been a wasted every year, he said.

Engineer at Dhading DDC Krishna Lal Shrestha said vehicles ply smoothly on 45 km of the road.

Technicians said Bhimdhunga-Sitapaila road could ease traffic movement from the Capital along Naubise-Nagdhunga road section and people of Nuwakot and Dhading could use the road after its completion.

“Millions have gone unaccounted for but nobody knows who is to blame,” irate locals said.