The Malekhu-Mugling section of the Prithvi Highway is closed to vehicles today, Monday, while a pedestrian bridge girder is installed at Majhimtar in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-9. Vehicular movement is scheduled to remain halted from 11 am to 3 pm, according to Sachendra Mishra, information officer for the Nagdhunga-Mugling Road Project’s West Section.
Closure for pedestrian bridge installation
The temporary shutdown is intended to allow crews to carry out the girder installation at Majhimtar. The affected stretch is part of the Prithvi Highway between Malekhu and Mugling, a route used by vehicles travelling through the area. Traffic will not be able to pass through the section during the stated work period.
Mishra said the closure would run for four hours, from 11 am until 3 pm. Motorists planning to use the highway during that window should account for the interruption and check for updates from the road project or traffic authorities before setting out. The information provided for the closure does not specify an alternative route or any arrangements for vehicles waiting on either side of the work site.
Reports differ on the duration
Reports about the shutdown have not given a consistent duration. One report said the section would be closed for three hours on Monday, while the information attributed to the project’s West Section gives a four-hour closure, from 11 am to 3 pm. The stated timing from Mishra indicates that traffic is expected to remain halted through the full four-hour window.
The difference means travellers should not rely on the shorter estimate when planning a journey. The available information does not explain whether the three-hour figure reflected an earlier schedule or a separate estimate. It also does not say whether the highway could reopen earlier if work is completed ahead of schedule, or whether the closure could continue beyond 3 pm if installation takes longer.
Advice for travellers
Drivers using the Malekhu-Mugling stretch should expect the interruption during the bridge work period and allow for possible waiting time. Those who can adjust their departure may wish to avoid arriving at Majhimtar between 11 am and 3 pm. The project’s notice, as reported, gives the closure window but provides no further details on traffic management, the expected reopening process or the status of the work after the scheduled period.
The closure is limited to the specified section and is connected to the installation of the pedestrian bridge girder at Majhimtar. Travellers should follow directions from officials at the site and seek current information before proceeding, particularly if their journey depends on passing through the area during the scheduled shutdown.
