Dhading:The Prithvi Highway is set to be closed from 11 p.m. tonight until 5 a.m. tomorrow for essential road repair works at the Galaundi area.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the closure was announced by Laxmi Pandey (Gautam), the Chief District Officer of Dhading, due to the need for repairs on a section of the highway damaged by erosion from the Trishuli River in Galaundi, within Gajuri Rural Municipality-5.
The highway had initially collapsed on October 9, necessitating extensive repair efforts. Although it was temporarily reopened after work on October 10, the highway will be closed again tonight to complete further maintenance.
This closure comes during the Dashain festival, complicating traffic management. Punya Prasad (Saroj) Sitoula, the national president of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, highlighted the challenges posed by the highway closure during this festive period, noting the impact on transport operators and passengers.
Between October 3 and 11, a total of 207,251 passengers have left Kathmandu Valley for various destinations from the New Bus Park as part of the Dashain celebrations, adding to the urgency of resolving the highway disruptions.