Hetauda Road Expansion: Youth Group Meets Minister Ghising

The issue of road expansion in the Hetauda market area has intensified, prompting local youth to actively present their demands directly to the government.

On Tuesday, representatives from GenZ Makwanpur met with the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, and submitted a memorandum, publicly stating their official stance on the road expansion.

While acknowledging that road expansion is necessary for long-term development, they have demanded that the state take the grievances, rights, and alternatives of the affected individuals seriously.

According to Sugam Negi, coordinator of GenZ Makwanpur, the team held a detailed discussion with the Minister regarding the contentious road expansion in Hetauda, the 25-gaz boundary dispute, compensation (muaaabja), alternative solutions, and the concerns of the affected people.

Negi stated that Minister Ghising mentioned that the 25-gaz boundary limit is set by the prevailing laws and that the government is moving forward with a stable decision. In the Minister's words:

"We have proceeded after understanding and studying everything. We will work in a way that is fair to everyone. We will proceed according to the law regarding structures within the 25-gaz limit."

Negi noted that the Minister's response was clear amidst the deep debate on whether or not to halt the road expansion. "The road expansion will not be stopped; the process will continue," he quoted the Minister as saying.

Negi further mentioned that the Minister assured them that concerns raised regarding the potential loss of houses and land, eligibility for compensation, and alternative arrangements would be addressed.

Regarding compensation, Negi informed that the Minister stated that the process would be initiated if necessary, and the final decision would be based on the order of the court.

The delegation that submitted the memorandum included Coordinator Sugam Negi, along with Provincial Coordinator Apsana Banu, youths from Lumbini Province, and other active members.

The memorandum highlighted the necessity of road expansion in Hetauda, the demands of the public, the rights and interests of the affected citizens, and the sensitivity the state must adopt.

Currently, road expansion has become the most heated legal, political, and social issue in Hetauda.