Kaski: The preliminary task of expansion and up-gradation of the Prithvi Highway that connects tourism city Pokhara with federal capital Kathmandu has begun with the cutting down of trees. With a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Mugling-Pokhara road project has advanced its works as part of its plan to expand the existing two-lane to four-lane road and improve the quality.

In order to speed up the road expansion drive, the project has taken forward the task in two parts. The 39-km section from Seti Bridge of Prithvichowk in Pokhara to Jamune of Tanahun falls in the western section of the road. An office of the Mugling-Pokhara road project has been set up in Pokhara to look after the road section.

Likewise, the 43-km road stretching from Jamune to Anbukhaireni falls in the eastern section. Its office has been established at Gunadi.

Project chief of the western section, Amit Kumar Shrestha shared that the task of felling trees has begun in the western section of the road expansion drive. He said that the task of cutting down trees has been expedited after taking departmental approval from the concerned authority.

So far 1,800 trees have been cut down in the western section where a total of 3,163 trees need to be cleared off for the road expansion drive. Shrestha added, “After the clearance of trees, we will focus on shifting electric poles and houses and huts”.

Similarly, the road expansion drive in the eastern section has gained more momentum than that of the western section.