Tunnels and bridges emerge as options to bypass treacherous Krishnabhir
Summary
The Department of Roads is weighing tunnels or permanent bridges to bypass the damaged Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway after flood-triggered collapse halted traffic on a vital Kathmandu Valley route. Officials say they hope to decide within a week whether the road can be reopened in time for Dashain travel.
Key Points
- Traffic has been completely halted on a 300-metre section of the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir after flood-related destabilisation caused the road to collapse.
- The Department of Roads is considering reopening the existing section, or building two 500-metre tunnels or two permanent bridges to bypass the landslide-prone area.
- Alternative routes via Galchhi Rural Municipality, Fishling Bridge and Benighat Bridge are being used, but they are longer and some stretches remain problematic.
- Officials are also searching for a World Bank-funded study on a parallel road along the Trishuli River bank after the original report was destroyed in a fire during the Gen Z movement.
