A prolonged legal dispute over a highway widening project has left the centre of Hetauda in disarray for seven months, as court delays continue to stall work on one of Nepal’s key road corridors.

Structures along the town’s main market area were demolished on December 6 last year as part of a road widening drive. However, with the case still pending before the Supreme Court, the project remains incomplete, leaving damaged buildings, abandoned storefronts and unsafe conditions across the commercial hub.

Businesses that once operated from the demolished structures continue to function from partially damaged premises, increasing risks for traders and customers alike.

The uncertainty deepened after the Supreme Court issued an interim order in a recent case challenging the widening. The court had previously dismissed 343 petitions of a similar nature filed up to 2023. However, the latest order has effectively halted further work, turning much of the market area into what residents describe as a “ruined townscape”.

Property owners have been demanding compensation, while the Department of Roads has repeatedly instructed residents to clear structures falling within the road boundary.

The Department of Roads demolished structures from Hetauda-Pashupatinagar through Rapti Road to Chaukitol after determining that they encroached on the designated road corridor. Work to clear the right-of-way began during the dry season but remains unfinished even as the monsoon has arrived.

With the case still under judicial review, the Hetauda Road Division Office has suspended further demolition and construction activities. Although the Supreme Court ordered that the petition be heard by a full bench, a final hearing has yet to take place.

“The case is scheduled for a hearing again on Wednesday,” said Laxman Mainali, legal adviser to Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City.

Property owners, local authorities and road officials are all awaiting the Supreme Court’s verdict on the dispute.

At the heart of the controversy is a government plan to widen the East-West Highway passing through Hetauda’s main market area to a width of 25 metres on each side. Homeowners argue that they should be compensated for land and structures affected by the project.

The latest petition was filed by resident Bindabasini Kansakar and others seeking protection of their homes, land and property during the widening drive. The petition named the Hetauda Road Division Office, Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and other government agencies as defendants.

On December 5 last year, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Meghraj Pokharel issued a show-cause order against the defendants, effectively suspending the widening work.

Later, on February 1, a joint bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Abdulaziz Musalman ordered the case to be referred to a full bench. Hearings were scheduled for February 22 and March 11 this year, but were postponed after being placed on the court’s list of cases that could not be heard.

Since then, the case has not returned to the hearing schedule.

Kiran Karki, chief of the Hetauda Road Division Office, said the unresolved court case has delayed both the widening project and related management work.

“The government has allocated a budget for the project, but legal complications have prevented us from moving forward,” Karki said.

According to officials, 531 houses and structures fall within the road widening zone in Hetauda’s market area. Of them, around 500 have already been demolished.

The project covers a 9.5-kilometre stretch from Ratomate through Buddha Chowk to the Rapti Bridge section of the East-West Highway, as well as from Buddha Chowk to Chaukitol along the Tribhuvan Highway.

The demolition of more than 500 structures has left Hetauda’s principal commercial district severely disrupted.

Many parts of the market area lack electricity, leaving streets in darkness at night and raising security concerns. Dust from the unfinished road works has become a daily problem for residents and businesses.

Some property owners who have land behind their damaged buildings are rebuilding further back from the road. Others continue to operate businesses from damaged shops after carrying out basic repairs, despite safety risks.

With no court verdict in sight, the Road Division Office has effectively been forced into a holding pattern. Officials say legal uncertainties make it impossible to proceed with either road widening or management works.

Road officials, local authorities and affected residents have urged the Supreme Court to prioritise the case and issue a final ruling.

The road widening project is part of plans to develop the Asian Highway network. The Hetauda Road Division Office began clearing structures on December 5 last year and is now waiting for the court’s decision before proceeding further.

According to project records, 234 structures on the right side of the highway and 297 on the left side were identified for demolition. Nearly 500 structures have already been removed.