The government has expedited the clean-up and maintenance works in different parts of Kathmandu for the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi begins his two-day state visit to Nepal on Friday.

The Department of Road (DoR) has black-topped the road section from Chabahel to Hyatt Hotel in Boudha, which was full of potholes, mud and dust for over four years. Similarly, the Project Implementation Directorate (PID) under Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has black-topped the roads that were dug up for pipeline installation of Melamchi Water in Babarmahal, New Baneshwor Chowk, Tinkune, Gaushala and Purano Baneshwor.The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has also removed 45 huts built by encroaching the public land along the roadside between Sinamangal and Tilganga.

The metropolis has also removed the construction materials and the driving practice lanes constructed illegally by the various driving institutions at Tinkune ground.“We have flattened the ground in Tinkune and have cleaned it. Apart from that, we have planted flowers at major traffic islands. We are also going to clean the streets with water,” said chief at Urban Infrastructure Development Department at KMC. The KMC has also removed the construction materials dumped along the roadsides in different parts of the city, while flowers and shrubs have been planted along the road medians at places like New Baneshwor, Tinkune, Koteshwor, New Road, Sahid Gate and Jamal. Flags of Nepal and India are also being hanged at the major junctions and road stretch.

The hasty makeover staged by the authorities to welcome the Indian prime minister has drawn criticism from many people.The KMC has carried out city beautification and clean-up at only those areas where Indian Prime Minister Modi is likely to pass through our visit.Most of the road sections in Kathmandu such as Kalanki-Satungal-Nagdhunga, Teku-Kalanki, Sankhu-Jorpati and the inner roads of the Capital are in a shambles.

“Why is it that our government can only do these sorts of things during the visit of VIPs, ” questioned Sajani Thapa, a mother from Sankhu. “It’s been over four years, every day I have to wash my daughter’s school uniform because of dusty road.” Satungal resident Rajesh Mishra said, “Modi should have come to Kathmandu via Thankot, so that Nepal government would black-top the road.”The government preparations for Modi’s Kathmandu visit have also been widely mocked and ridiculed on social media platforms.