KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Road Division has awarded the contract to upgrade the Chappal Karkhana-Dhobikhola section of the Ring Road to eight lanes.
Shanti/Sushan JV has been selected for the 1.03-km project at a cost of Rs 40.18 million, including VAT and provisional sums. The division had invited bids in August, with 16 companies submitting applications. Ten companies were shortlisted after the technical evaluation.
The contract agreement will be signed soon, after which construction will begin. The project is targeted for completion within 18 months of the agreement.
The Narayangoapal Chowk-Chappal Karkhana section has already been upgraded to eight lanes. The 700-metre section was completed last year at a cost of Rs 25 million.
The new section will have four lanes in the middle and two lanes on each side, along with service lanes on both sides.
The 27.2-km Ring Road is being expanded in phases. So far, 10.4 km from Koteshwor to Kalanki and 700 meters from Narayangoapal Chowk to Chappal Karkhana have been upgraded to eight lanes.
Around 16.1 km remains to be expanded. China is preparing to upgrade the 8.2-km Kalanki-Basundhara section, which will also include a flyover at Gongabu-Machhapokhari.
The Basundhara-Narayangoapal Chowk section remains uncertain due to compensation issues. Meanwhile, an underground tunnel has been proposed for the Chabahil-Gaushala section due to limited land and the heritage status of the Pashupati area.
The Gaushala-Koteshwor section is planned to be expanded to eight lanes by constructing new road sections on both sides of the existing road.
