The Chabahil-Sankhu road expansion drive that started in February last year has hit a snag for various reasons.

According to the Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project (KVRIP), the body under which the road expansion drive is being conducted, an agreement to expand the 11.5km stretch was signed in October 2015, but shortage of fuel and construction materials due to border blockade delayed the project.

The road expansion project got impetus after ease in supply of fuel and construction materials, but only 30 percent of work, mostly construction of sub-base or base-course, has been completed so far, says the KVRIP.

Demolition of houses and buildings that have been built on public land is yet another challenge that the authorities are facing.

Some houses build along the Chuchhepati-Chabahil-Thali- Boudha-Danchi road have been demolished. “Some owners demolished houses on their own while some have opposed the road-widening drive and moved court demanding a halt of the project,” said Bishwo Bijaya Lal Shrestha, an engineer from the KVRIP. “Hence, expansion work has been halted.”

Though the government has offered compensation, house owners are entitled compensation only the destroyed structures, not the land on which they were built.

At places where the authorities have reached an agreement with owners to demolish houses, tangled electricity wires, telecom lines and TV cables among others are creating a problem, officials said.

The Chabahil-Sankhu road has been divided into four parts for the expansion and as many contractors are working.

Rs1.75 billion was earmarked for the expansion of Chabahil-Sankhu road. “We have been utilizing Rs 80 million that was released for the project,” said Shrestha. “Once the expansion work speeds up, the government will release more fund.”

Once expanded, the Chabahil-Sankhu road will be 22 metres wide with two meters wide footpaths on each side.