Kathmandu, April 20 -- Birgunj Metropolitan City has begun a demolition drive to clear over 1,000 illegal structures along a major road section, triggering anger among local people and traders. They claimed they were given little time to prepare.

The demolition drive started at around 5:30 am on Sunday along the Gandak-Miteri Bridge stretch of the Tribhuvan Highway, targeting buildings and makeshift structures built within 25 metres of the central line on both sides of the road. The Road Division Office in Hetauda, deployed around a dozen bulldozers and excavators to clear the encroached structures. Security personnel of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and municipal police were mobilised to carry out the demolition smoothly.

Engineer B...