Construction of a box culvert has commenced to address a large sinkhole on Kamaladi Road, three months after the incident.
On July 10, a sinkhole approximately five meters deep and 10 meters wide formed near the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office, over the Tukucha River (Ichhumati) on Kamaladi Road.
“Previously, brick walls were constructed around the area with a concrete slab on top, allowing traffic to operate on this stretch. Following monsoon damage in July, we are now building a box culvert,” said Narayan Dutta Bhandari, head of the Kathmandu Division Road Office, in an interview with Onlinekhabar.
Contract awarded two months later
The day after the brick culvert under the road collapsed, a team from the Department of Roads conducted a site inspection. Following this, a team of engineers and geologists studied the area.
“We initially conducted our own assessment, and then, concerned about soil stability, we carried out further evaluations with geologists and estimated costs accordingly,” explained Bhandari.
As the old brick culvert was of historical interest, the Division Road Office consulted the Department of Archaeology. After discussions, the Division was advised to avoid damaging any heritage structures. Following this guidance, they finalised plans according to road department standards and awarded the contract.
“Delays in starting construction were due to continuous monsoon rains for a few weeks, the need for archaeological permissions, and time taken for public procurement evaluations,” Bhandari noted.
After administrative processes were completed, the contract was awarded to Digi Prakash Construction on October 5. While the project’s estimated cost was Rs 6 million, the contract was secured at Rs 4.9 million.
“This is considered a bridge since anything over six meters in length qualifies as such. However, due to the shorter length here, it’s technically called a culvert. A box culvert was chosen due to the small river beneath,” Bhandari explained.
Three shifts to ensure timely completion
According to Bhandari, construction began on October 19, with workers operating in three shifts—morning, afternoon, and night—to ensure timely completion. The contractor has committed to finishing the project by December 4.
The sinkhole formed as water flowing from Durbar Marg on the western side toward Kamaladi eroded soil beneath the road, ultimately causing a collapse.
