All types of vehicles will be allowed to operate on the Prithvi Highway from Wednesday.
The highway, which had been obstructed due to landslides and road cave-ins at various locations following continuous rainfall starting from September 23, is set to fully reopen from Wednesday.
Dhading Chief District Officer Laxmi Pandeya issued a notice on Tuesday evening stating that, provided there are no further landslides, all types of vehicles would be allowed to operate on the highway from 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Previously, traffic had been restricted to one-way movement at several locations due to landslides.
“Efforts are underway to clear landslides and other obstructions, and traffic is currently operating on a one-way basis. If no further landslides or obstructions occur, all vehicles operating along the Prithvi Highway will be allowed to resume full operations from 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30,” the notice issued by CDO Pandeya said.
Although the rainfall has stopped, the risk of landslides remains at several locations along the highway. The administration has therefore urged drivers, passengers, and the general public to travel with caution and exercise vigilance.
According to CDO Pandeya, several high-risk locations along the highway have also been identified. Galaundi, Chalise, Parewa Bhir, Krishna Bhir, and Jogimara are among the areas identified as vulnerable.
She said that machinery and teams of technical personnel have been kept on standby so that any landslides can be cleared immediately if they occur at those locations.
“A technical team, along with technicians, machinery, and security personnel, is on standby at vulnerable locations. Arrangements have been made to ensure that the team can reach a location within five minutes if any problem occurs,” she said.
Pandeya said that the new track at Krishna Bhir is also currently safe.
The gabion wall along the new track had been damaged following incessant rainfall.
“That section is also safe. Two-way traffic is operating there,” CDO Pandeya said.
