Delay in expansion and maintenance of Gaddachauki-Chisapani section of East-West highway raises safety concerns
Bhimdatta: The expansion of the Gaddachauki-Chisapani section of the East-West Highway in far-western Nepal has been slow, with budget constraints hindering both maintenance and development.
While various sections of the East-West Highway are being upgraded from four to eight lanes, the western stretches are facing a lack of sufficient funds. The Road Division Office in Mahendranagar reported that only Rs 30 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year for the maintenance and expansion of the 126-kilometer Gaddachauki-Chisapani section.
Chief of Road Division Mahendranagar, Rajesh Kumar Yadav, stated that the limited budget has delayed expansion work. “Last fiscal year, we carried out culvert construction and some road repairs, including reconstructing a bridge washed away by floods in Suda, Vedkot Municipality. However, Rs 8 million of the Rs 15 million project cost is yet to be paid,” he said.
So far, only 12 kilometers of the road have been expanded, with all 12 culverts completed. The office has been constructing culverts three meters wide on each side near urban settlements. Chief Yadav emphasized that approximately Rs 150 million is required annually for proper maintenance and expansion of this highway section alone.
Despite a government announcement of Rs 21 billion for upgrading the Gaddachauki-Attariya road section to four lanes this fiscal year, the Road Division has yet to appoint consultants, conduct necessary studies, complete an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), or secure the budget.
The East-West Highway, Nepal’s main strategic road whose construction began in 1961, is slated for four-lane expansion. Other sections, including Kakarbhitta-Chandrauta, Itahari-Kanchanpur, Kamala-Pathlaiya, and Narayangadh-Butwal, are undergoing upgrades with support from agencies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and USAID Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Local residents have demanded the expansion of the Gaddachauki-Chisapani section, citing rising risks of road accidents. The District Traffic Office, Mahendranagar, reports that the Gaddachauki-Attariya stretch experienced 126 accidents in the last fiscal year, resulting in 14 deaths and 241 injuries. Laxman Pachbhaiya, Chief of the District Traffic Office, noted that increased traffic volume and narrow road structures are the main contributors to these accidents.