Diversion sends traffic surging along Tribhuvan Highway
Summary
A diversion from the closed Prithvi Highway has sent thousands of heavy vehicles onto the Tribhuvan Highway, causing long jams, breakdowns and hours-long delays for passengers and freight. Commuters on the Hetauda-Kathmandu route are now taking 10 to 15 hours as the narrow, ageing road struggles to handle the surge.
Key Points
- The closure of the Prithvi Highway after a landslide at Krishnabhir has shifted heavy traffic onto the Tribhuvan Highway.
- Passenger buses and freight trucks are facing severe delays, with trips from Hetauda to Kathmandu now taking 10 to 15 hours.
- A stranded container truck at Aapchaur blocked traffic for 11 hours and required cranes and bulldozers to clear.
- Officials say the 132-kilometre highway is handling more than 6,000 heavy vehicles a day despite being designed for far fewer.
