Locals demand and increase in the width of Dhangadhi-Dipayal Expressway

Dhangadhi: A contract agreement was signed in May to blacktop 23 kilometers of Dhangadhi-Dipayal Expressway. The agreement was finalized on April 28 after the letter of intent was made public on June 8. 

Dhangadhi-Syaule had won the contract worth Rs. 18 crore 51 lakh and 10 thousand including VAT for 13.4 km of blacktop, Khadka-Krishna-Narayan-Banlamukhi JV have started constructing the drain. 

Yagya Bahadur Bogati, a representative of the construction company, said that the construction work for the drain and wall has started in the area. "We have started work, we have been able to work as it is not raining. There are 50/60 workers working on the site and there has been a demand to increase the width of Kailali section under Dhangadhi-Dipayal Expressway."

According to the agreement the width of the road is 5 meters. Therefore, the locals have protested against the contract agreement stating that the 5 meters width for the 13.4 km road will not suffice. They have requested to make the width of the road 7 meters wide as their target is to connect it with the Chinese border. The locals have requested to make the width of the blacktop road at least 7 meters wide. 

The Road Planning Office has reached the Road Department after the locals protested against the 5 meter width. The Planning Office claims that a proposal has been submitted to the Road Department to increase the width of the blacktop. Chief of the Dhangadhi-Dipayal Expressway Planning Office Khagendra Shahi said that the proposal has been submitted to the department. But, "It has not been approved yet," he added.