Traffic along the Harneti–Kapurkot section of the Rapti Highway has been halted for five hours a day from Thursday to facilitate road upgrading works.

The Road Division Office, Dang, said vehicles will not be allowed to operate on the stretch daily from 11am to 4pm until February 8. The office has urged travellers and transport operators to use alternative routes, including Paiyakhoriya–Satabas–Kimuchaur–Kapurkot, Tulsipur–Balle–Luham and Luham–Kalimati–Tulsipur.

The closure has affected residents of Dang, Salyan, Rukum and Rolpa.

Road Division Office chief Dipendra Bahadur Bista said excavation work is underway for blacktopping the Harneti–Kapurkot road. Regular vehicle movement was hampering construction, prompting the temporary closure to speed up the work.

He said early completion of the project would ease travel for residents of Salyan, Dang, Rolpa and Rukum and reduce travel risks.