One of the major problems Kathmandu has been facing in the recent years is heavy traffic jam. The jams are frequent almost every waking hour.  And now finally, a step has been initiated by Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai to ease such congestion in the Valley. Hence, following his instructions, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) has commenced their work on widening the narrow roads. As part of its ongoing drive,  the MTPD has expanded major sections of three busy roads.

According to  national daily Republica, Traffic police on Saturday expanded the Babarmahal-Bijulibazaar road, the Gwarko-Satdobato section of the ring road and the Hanumanthan-Kandeuta road in Kupandole by demolishing illegal infrastructures built adjacent to service roads and pavements. The MTPD is planning to widen more narrow and congested roads in the coming days including Teku and Thapathali-Maaitighar Mandala roads.

The paper further reports although locals occupying the service road in Baneshwor managed to stop the traffic police from widening the road for a few hours by snatching away the keys of dozers, they finally backed off after the police warned of using force. Officials engaged in the drive said demolition of infrastructures, constructed on the service road and pavements, has widened the road sections by up to 15 feet. In addition chief of MTPD Ganesh Raj Rai has reassured that pedestrians will not face any difficulty as the pavements will be rebuilt.