New routes designated for vehicles traveling between Kathmandu and Hetauda

Following the Bhotekoshi River flood on August 26, which disrupted the Prithvi Highway and other roads, Nepal Police Headquarters has designated new routes for vehicles traveling between Hetauda in Makwanpur District and Kathmandu, effective today.
Under the new traffic arrangement, all cargo vehicles and large passenger vehicles with up to 10 wheels will travel to Kathmandu via the Tribhuvan Highway. When traveling from Kathmandu back to Makwanpur, vehicles with up to 10 wheels will use the Kanti Highway.

The Police Headquarters said the routes were designated after taking into consideration weather and road conditions as well as passenger safety. Passenger vehicles traveling to Hetauda via the Kanti Highway must cross the Thinging Check Post under the Area Police Office in Makwanpur District by 6 p.m.

For small passenger vehicles with a capacity of fewer than 14 seats, the designated route from Kathmandu to Hetauda is Pharping–Phakhel–Kulekhani–Bhimfedi.

For travel from Hetauda toward Kathmandu, the designated route is Bhimfedi–Kulekhani–Sisneri–Dakshinkali.

The Police Headquarters said the Bailey bridge near Trikhandi in Makwanpur has a limited load-bearing capacity. Therefore, fuel tankers and heavy cargo vehicles have been instructed not to use the Bailey bridge and instead travel via the diversion alongside it.

As the country is currently experiencing a disaster situation, the Police Headquarters has urged people to travel only when necessary. It has also called on drivers to remain patient and disciplined, operate their vehicles only when it is their turn, avoid overtaking, and fully comply with the instructions of security personnel and traffic police deployed for traffic management.

Meanwhile, several highways across the country have been obstructed by landslides triggered by continuous rainfall, in addition to the disruption caused by the Bhotekoshi flood.

According to the Police Headquarters, the Prithvi Highway has been completely blocked at Krishnabhir in Ward No. 7 of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality, where erosion by the Trishuli River caused a section of the road to collapse. The damage is so severe that even pedestrian movement is impossible.

Similarly, the road at Parewabhir in Ward No. 2 of Gajuri Rural Municipality, Dhading, has also been completely blocked after flooding caused the lower section of the road to collapse.