The Development Cooperation Implementation Division under the Department of Roads (DoR) has issued a public notice, prohibiting the construction of new structures on the Butwal-Gorusinge road section under the East-West Highway. The notice was issued on Monday.

About 50 meters from the centerline of the road, 25 meters to both right and left, a total of 50 meters of the road boundary area of the section is about to be upgraded with loan assistance from the World Bank. The DoR has already developed a detailed engineering design and rehabilitation action plan for the road upgrade.

Under this rehabilitation action plan, the work of taking a detailed survey of the personal and public structures that may be damaged within the road boundary area (houses, towers, commercial corridors, temples, Chautara, Pati, Pauwa, etc.) was completed in mid-September, 2022.

The Division said that certification was also completed on March 4. Therefore, according to the existing laws of the Nepal government, if any structures are constructed within the boundary area of 50 meters (25 meters each to both left and right) after April 15, 2024, the DoR will vacate them by giving 35 days notice. The notice of the Division says that the DoR is not bound to pay any kind of compensation in the case of the vacated/removed structures.

A tender for the first phase of the project has already been called and now the financial proposal and technical evaluation of the bidders is underway. The contract is expected to be ready and signed in a few days.