The construction of Krishnanagar-Dhan Khola road, which started around 58 years ago, has not been completed yet.

Former Secretary of Shivagadi VDC Gane Giri said around 10 kilometers of the 24 kilometer track is yet to be opened and only half of the road has been graveled so far.

Local people said the road project was delayed due to the government’s apathy.

The road construction was initiated to link mountainous districts like Dang and Pyuthan with Nepal-India border, political analyst Rudra Pratap Shah said. He said the work was started at the initiation of then Agriculture Minister Gaya Prasad Shah with financial aid from India and the United States 58 years ago. The road construction, however, was affected due to a dispute between the donors over minor issues, he said.

Local Development Officer Ram Prasad Pandey said their requests to the government for budget to blacktop the track have not been heeded. He said the District Development Office does not have enough funds to open the track.

Engineer Rajesh Yadav said though around Rs 1 million is released for the track every year, the amount is spent in repairing the road. It is said that the District Development Committee also sets aside around Rs 400,000 for the road every year. 

The road links Krishnagar, Ramnagar, Bhagawanpur, Ganeshpur, Khuruhiya, Mrigauli, Pathardeiya and Shivagadi in Kapilvastu. The road, which is named Regional Transport Road, was left behind after construction of the East West Highway some 42 years ago, Khuhuriya VDC Secretary Jhalak Shrestha said.