KATHMANDU: The field survey for the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project (Kalanki-Basundhara section) has been completed.
Chinese technicians, who arrived in Nepal in April, has completed the survey of the 8.2-kilometer stretch, according to Kathmandu Ring Road Expansion Project Office.
A team of 18 technicians took nearly two months to complete the survey. The survey was carried out by experts from two Chinese state-owned firms — CCCC First Highway Consultants Co Ltd and Xi’an Fangzhou Engineering Consulting Ltd.
Chief Divisional Engineer Krishna Nath Ojha, who heads the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project, said the Chinese technicians have already started work on the road’s design after completing the field survey.
“The Kalanki–Basundhara section will be built under a grant from the Chinese government,” Ojha told MeroAuto. “The Chinese team arrived in April and completed the survey last week. They have already begun working on the design.”
Since the project is being executed under Chinese grant, the Chinese government will be responsible for selecting the construction company.
According to Ojha, the design will be prepared in China. “The Chinese team is working on the design in China itself. It plans to complete road design within three months, probably by October,” he added.
After the design is approved by the Department of Roads, the process of selecting a construction company will begin. Since the project is being executed under Chinese grant, the Chinese government will be responsible for selecting the construction company. “Our role is limited to coordination and facilitation. The final design will determine the project cost,” Ojha said.
Flyover at Machhapokhari
The Chinese technicians have proposed to build a flyover at the Machhapokhari intersection — one of the most congested points in the Kalanki–Basundhara section.
“They have planned to build a flyover to reduce traffic congestion on the Gongabu-Machhapokhari stretch. Maybe they will incorporate this in the design,” Ojha added.
The Chinese surveyors have also proposed to build a bridge instead of culvert at Dhungedhara.
The 8.2-km road section will have eight lanes, excluding service lanes on either side. Officials say lessons learned from design flaws in the Koteshwor–Kalanki section will be incorporated into the new design. Additional features such as crossing points, cross-sections, bridges and culverts will be constructed as needed, according to Ojha.
Meanwhile, the government has achieved 70% physical progress in building the service lanes.
