Krishnabhir opens for one-way traffic; two-way movement to start from Thursday

Kathmandu / Sept. 13: The section of the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir in Dhading, which was blocked by a landslide, has partially reopened.

Partial traffic operations resumed from Sunday afternoon following the completion of work to level the road and prepare a track for vehicle movement using two bulldozers.

According to Bijay Jaisi, director general of the Department of Roads, only stranded gas bullets and vehicles carrying heavy equipment are currently being allowed to pass through the rebuilt section of the Prithvi Highway.

Jaisi stated that preparations are underway to fully reopen the road for two-way traffic by Thursday, following the completion of drainage construction work along the inner side of the road.

Prior to this, the road’s load-bearing capacity and trafficability were tested by driving an empty gas bullet across the section.

The Prithvi Highway had been blocked after the Trishuli River flood on August 26 eroded the road at Krishnabhir. Since then, large and small vehicles traveling along this route had been using alternative paths to commute to and from Kathmandu.

The landslide in Krishnabhir, Dhading, blocked the Prithvi Highway, completely disconnecting the capital’s main lifeline route. Due to this reason, the shortage of essentials including cooking gas has mounted leading to black market of these goods, which has disrupted daily life in the valley.