The Ministry of Urban Development has approved the detailed project report (DPR) of first phase of Outer Ring Road Project and directed the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) to take forward the project. 

The meeting chaired by Minister for Urban Development Arjun Narshingh KC approved the DPR on Wednesday, almost one year after the KVDA submitted the DPR to the ministry for approval. 

With the DPR endorsed, the deck has been cleared for the construction of the first phase of the Outer Ring Road Project - 6.8km segment from Chobhar to Satungal.

“This is a positive development. We will soon begin the works,” said Bhai Kaji Tiwari, chief executive officer of KVDA . The development of 72-km Outer Ring Road which is expected to ease traffic congestion in the Kathmandu valley has been in a limbo for over 12 years due to various reasons. 

Before sending the DPR to the ministry last year, the KVDA had issued a 35-day notice asking the locals to lodge complaints regarding the authority’s plan to start land pooling. The Chobhar-Satungal segment consists a total of 8,000 ropanis of land held by 14,000 owners. 

According to the KVDA officials, the Outer Ring Road touches all three districts of the Valley and the land pooling needs to be carried out for 80,000-100,000 ropanis of land. 

The project has divided 72-km-long Outer Ring Road into 11 equal sections. Of the total 72km, 35.08km stretch fall in Kathmandu, 15.80km stretch in Lalitpur and 21.05km stretch in Bhaktapur. 

The Outer Ring Road will pass through Chobhar, Gamcha, Satungal, Naikap-Purano Bhanjhang, Sitapaila, Nagarjun, Nepaltar, Gongabu, Tokhagaun, Chapali, Kapan, Jagdol, Sandol and Thalidachi in Kathmandu district. Lubhu, Thaiba, Dhapakhel, Thecho, Bungmati and Chobhar in Lalitpur, and Gamphedi, Pakaunepati, Bansbari, Yangdol, Masandol, Bhatedhikuro, Naya Thimi and Dadhikot in Bhaktapur.

The government had proposed the plan in 2005. But it had failed to take off mainly due to issue related to land compensation.