East-West Highway sections still run on private land due to ownership issues
Summary
Large sections of the East-West Highway in Nepal remain registered to private individuals decades after construction, causing legal and administrative challenges for government ownership and expansion.
Key Points
- Sections of the East-West Highway passing through Madhesh Province remain legally registered to private individuals despite decades of use.
- Lack of coordination between Road Division and Survey Offices has prevented proper updating of land ownership records.
- Unresolved ownership issues risk legal disputes, compensation claims, and disruption to highway expansion projects.
- Authorities plan coordinated verification and record updates to resolve the discrepancies, with some localized resistance anticipated.
