The demolished houses and sheds in Hetauda will now be managed

 

Under the road expansion campaign, more than 510 houses and sheds were demolished in the Hetauda market area from Saturday morning to evening. Although the exact updated data on the total structures demolished has not been collected yet, the Road Division Office estimates that over 510 structures have been taken down. Hetauda’s Road Office used a dozen bulldozers to remove structures said to be built by encroaching the road boundary (Right of Way) along the East–West Highway and Tribhuvan Highway.

According to the Division Road Office, 21 houses and sheds still remain to be demolished. The office stated that some structures built within the road boundary in the Chowkitol area of Tribhuvan Highway are yet to be removed. Since homeowners themselves agreed to dismantle these structures, the road division returned on Saturday.

On Mangsir 5, the Hetauda Road Division issued a 15-day notice instructing people to vacate encroached land. However, despite the Supreme Court issuing an interim order to maintain the status quo and not implement the notice, bulldozers were deployed early the next morning. This created shock and anger among the local residents.

On Saturday, structures from Ratamate in Hetauda-15 up to Main Road (Buddha Chowk, Rapti Road, Pipal Bot, and down to Chowkitol) were demolished. Among the structures removed within the boundary were Nepal Rastra Bank Limited, Himalayan Bank, and three petrol pumps. During the road expansion, more than 25 Ashoka trees in the Buddha Chowk, Main Road, and Forestry areas were also uprooted. Preparations have been made to begin managing the debris from Sunday.

Locals whose houses were demolished have expressed dissatisfaction, demanding fair compensation and alternative arrangements. Many affected residents protested, calling the administration’s action “unjust.” Several showed land ownership documents, approved building maps, and tax payment receipts, claiming that “legally registered houses were demolished.”

However, the head of the Division Road Office, Guru Prasad Adhikari, stated that road expansion is a necessary step for long-term public benefit. According to him, disputes over removing illegally built structures along the road have been ongoing for a long time. This road expansion is expected to improve transportation convenience, enhance business activities, and beautify the city.