The Ditible
Kathmandu: Tensions flared on New Road on Thursday as locals clashed with metropolitan police over the ongoing footpath expansion project. The confrontation escalated when police intervened to prevent a group of protesters from entering a nearby office.
The dispute has been brewing since Wednesday when the Kathmandu Metropolitan City resumed work on widening the footpath following an interim order from the Patan High Court. The court ruled in favor of the metropolis, overturning a previous decision by the road division office to halt the project.
Despite the legal backing, the footpath expansion has met with strong resistance from local residents, who argue that it will narrow the road and cause traffic congestion. Led by Ward 22 Chairperson Chin Kaji Shrestha, protesters have been demonstrating against Mayor Balen Shah and the city police, demanding a halt to the project.
To manage the situation, authorities have deployed a large contingent of police to the area. The footpath expansion has become a contentious issue in the city, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.
