Structures Demolished for Road Expansion in Birgunj

Authorities in Birgunj began a large-scale demolition drive early Sunday morning, April 19, to clear roadside encroachments for the expansion of the main road along the Tribhuvan Highway.

The District Administration Office, Parsa, issued a public notice on Saturday evening, instructing residents to vacate a 25-metre stretch on both sides from the road’s centreline by 4:30 am on Sunday.

According to Chief District Officer Bhola Dahal, structures built within the designated corridor — from the Nepal–India Friendship Bridge to Gandak Canal Chowk — were removed using bulldozers as part of the clearance operation.

The drive was conducted in coordination with the Road Division Office, Hetauda, Birgunj Metropolitan City, and local security agencies. A total of 15 bulldozers were deployed across key sections, including the customs area, Ghantaghar, Murli, and the Sugar Mill corridor along the highway.

The expansion project moved ahead after the Supreme Court cleared legal obstacles, rejecting petitions filed by landowners seeking property rights protection. The verdict was delivered in early 2025.

Petitioners had argued that the road expansion failed to follow procedures outlined in the Land Acquisition Act, 1977, and the Public Roads Act, 1974. The Department of Roads had initially issued a notice in June 2019, directing the removal of structures within 25 metres on either side of the road’s centreline — a decision that was later challenged in court.