Supreme Court Order Halts Hetauda Road Expansion Work

The Road Division Office in Hetauda has temporarily stopped the main road expansion work.

According to Road Division Chief Guru Prasad Adhikari, the plan to protect the road boundaries under the “National Highway Boundary Protection Program 2082” has been stopped because the Supreme Court issued an interim order.

On Saturday, the Road Division had demolished around 500 houses in one day. People were given two days to remove their belongings from the demolished houses.

Adhikari said,
“Some concerned people filed a petition at the Supreme Court against the notice published for the road boundary protection campaign. The Supreme Court issued an interim order on 2082/08/19, which was received on 2082/08/21 at 12:46 PM. Because of this order, the activities mentioned in the notice have been stopped for now.”

Earlier, on Mangsir 19, the Supreme Court had ordered not to implement the road expansion notice in Hetauda.

A petition was filed by local resident and former Member of Parliament Bindabasini Kansakar. Judge Meghraj Pokhrel’s single bench issued an order to keep the situation “as it is” and not to implement the road expansion notice until further decision.

She had filed the petition on Mangsir 16 asking for an interim order.

The Road Division had earlier published a notice on Mangsir 5, giving a 15-day deadline to remove houses and structures within the road boundary. The expansion was planned from:

• Ratamate to Buddha Chowk to Rapti Bridge on the East-West Highway, and
• Buddha Chowk to Samari Bridge on the Tribhuvan Highway.
  The boundary for expansion was set at 25/25 gaz (75/75 feet) on both sides.

The Supreme Court order said that the defendants must submit a written response within 15 days explaining why the requested order should not be issued.

The Court also said that since the petition raises questions about residents’ housing and property rights, it is necessary to hear both sides before deciding whether to issue an interim order. The hearing is scheduled for Mangsir 26.

Until the discussion and decision are completed, the Court has ordered that the Road Division’s notice from 2082/08/05 must not be implemented, and the situation must remain unchanged.