Various groups led by the Valley Road Expansion Victim Struggle Committee staged a demonstration at the Maitighar Mandala in the Capital on Thursday against the road expansion drive and other development projects under way in various parts of Kathmandu Valley.

The protesters chanted slogans against the road expansion drive, Kathmandu-Terai expressway, outer Ring Road and satellite cities and other projects during the demonstration, organised by natives and members of various institutions of the Valley, including Bhaktapur, Patan and Khokana. They also accused the authorities of planning the development projects in order to displace the native population.

Committee coordinator Suman Sayami said the road expansion drive and various projects are a serious threat to ancient native settlements and disregard cultural and religious heritage and inalienable rights of the natives.

“There are ancient structures where the authorities want to expand the road and our heritage and ancient settlements are under threat. This is unacceptable and should be dismissed,” Sayami said, “authorities seem to be hellbent on moving forward despite the Supreme Court verdict to cease the road expansion.”

The demonstration was attended by Valley natives and institutions like Save Nepa Valley Campaign and Fast Track Victims, Road Expansion Affected Struggle Committee and Nepal Cultural Restoration Campaign.