SATV April 07, Kathmandu: Despite the delay in initiating construction of the main thoroughfare in the second phase of the Ring Road expansion (Kalanki to Narayan Gopal Chowk), work on the service lanes has not only commenced but is now nearing completion.
The Nepali government has accelerated work on infrastructure it is responsible for, including the service lanes and utility corridors, in the absence of a Chinese technical team tasked with constructing the main road segment under a grant agreement.
The second phase of the Ring Road project envisions an eight-lane roadway stretching from Kalanki to Maharajgunj. Although the Chinese government pledged to undertake the main road construction, progress has been stalled for over four years.
The delay has been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of site clearance. As a result, no Chinese team has arrived to begin work yet.
Senior Division Engineer Krishna Nath Ojha, the Project Chief of the Kathmandu Ring Road Expansion Project, confirmed that Nepal is moving forward with its share of the responsibilities, which includes the development of service lanes, drainage systems and utility corridors along the 8.2-kilometre stretch.
Under the bilateral agreement, Nepal and China are responsible for distinct components of the project. China is committed to construction only within a 38-metre boundary, while the remaining structures fall under Nepal's jurisdiction. Ojha emphasised that Nepal is undertaking all preliminary infrastructure development, including greenbelts and utility corridors, to avoid delays even if the Chinese team remains absent.
“Construction of the service lanes, greenbelts and utility corridors is under our mandate. We can’t remain idle waiting for the Chinese team to arrive. Eventually, it’s our responsibility to get it done,” Ojha told The Rising Nepal Daily, on Sunday.
According to Ojha, the Chinese team has not visited Nepal for nearly five years due to COVID-related disruptions. Once they do arrive, they will focus solely on the 38-metre-wide section earmarked for main road construction.
However, some urban planners and infrastructure experts have criticised the government for initiating service lane construction prematurely. They warn that building around the main road without synchronising with its design may lead to rework and additional costs in the future.
Chinese team arrival still uncertain
The arrival of the Chinese technical team remains uncertain. Officials said that the team has insisted on complete site clearance before they begin any work. The same company involved in the first phase of the project—widely criticised for delays and design flaws—has refused to start until all obstructions are removed. The first phase, connecting Koteshwar to Kalanki, started in 2012 and was completed in 2018.
Project spokesperson Ram Bihari Chaudhary noted that almost all the obstructing sites have been cleared except in Narayangopal Chowk, with three major electric poles and multiple bus stops still needing to be relocated. “The Chinese side has clearly stated they will only proceed once the site is fully cleared. We're actively working to relocate the remaining obstacles,” said an official.
Site clearance challenges persist, including relocating several temples and public utility poles. While locals have demanded alternative land for displaced temples, engineers have proposed redesigning the route to integrate some poles into greenbelt areas.
The road is planned to span 62 metres in width. A key Buddhist monument at Swayambhu has been excluded from demolition following mutual agreement.
Initially, the plan was to expand an 11.6-kilometre section from Kalanki to Dhobikhola. The current phase focuses on 8.2 kilometres up to Narayan Gopal Chowk, with the remaining segment to be addressed in the third phase.
Engineer Arjun Prasad Aryal, Deputy Director General for the Department of Roads, confirmed that despite a support letter being signed, there have been no further updates from Chinese counterpart. It was signed in the presence of the Ministry of Finance and Chinse officials, he said.
A technical team from China’s Henan Provincial Communications Planning, Survey, and Design Institute visited the site in November 2021, but no further progress has occurred since. In February 2022, the Chinese Henan Communications was tasked with preparing a detailed project report (DPR) within two months, but the report has not yet been submitted and informed more about this to Nepal, said the Department of Roads.
This road expansion is part of a broader project funded by the Chinese government. The first phase, spanning 10.39 kilometres from Koteshwor to Kalanki, was completed earlier but faced criticism for delays and flawed design, with the final product resembling an expressway rather than a city-friendly roadway.
For the current fiscal year, the government had allocated Rs. 1 billion for drainage and service lane construction in the Kalanki–Narayan Gopal Chowk area. However, the construction of service lane and its black topping work may halt before new budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 as the allocated budget for this current fiscal has now finished.
According to project officials, 92 per cent of site clearance for the second phase has been completed. Ongoing efforts include relocation of water pipelines, sewage systems and electric poles.
The Chinese side has insisted that construction will only commence after full site clearance, to avoid the complications experienced during the first phase. Once cleared, a detailed design will be prepared, and construction is estimated to take three years.
The expansion, delayed by four years due to the pandemic, is expected to move forward only after Chinese engineers initiate their study on-site.
Project Chief Ojha said the project has heard a news that the Chinese company has now selected a design consulting company for beginning the work here. But they have not officially informed the project office when they will arrive.
