Highlights

• Malekhu-Mugling road section of the Prithvi Highway will remain completely closed for three hours on November 2, 2026.
• The closure will run from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• The restriction is required to install the pedestrian overpass girder at Majhimtar.
• All categories of vehicles will be stopped during the scheduled work.
• The announcement was confirmed by Sachendra Mishra, information officer of the Nagdhunga-Mugling Road Project, Western Section.
• Drivers and passengers have been asked to remain patient, maintain lane discipline and follow traffic regulations.

Drivers heading towards Mugling from Kathmandu, or travelling in the opposite direction, will need to plan around another scheduled traffic disruption on the Prithvi Highway.

The Malekhu-Mugling road section will be completely closed for three hours on Monday, November 2, to allow workers to install a pedestrian overpass girder at Majhimtar. The closure will begin at 11:00 AM and continue until 2:00 PM.

This is a temporary restriction linked to bridge construction work, rather than a permanent change to the highway's operating schedule. However, the complete stoppage means motorists travelling through the section should expect delays if their journey overlaps with the construction window.

Why is the Malekhu-Mugling road closing today?

The closure is necessary for the installation of the pedestrian overpass girder at Majhimtar. The structure includes a section intended for pedestrians to cross above the road.

According to the report published by Nepal Auto on November 2, the work involves positioning the girder that will form part of the pedestrian crossing. This operation requires the highway to be cleared of moving traffic during the installation period.

Sachendra Mishra, information officer of the Nagdhunga-Mugling Road Project, Western Section, confirmed that the road will be closed to facilitate the work.

Unlike routine maintenance, girder installation involves lifting and positioning a major structural component. Keeping vehicles away from the work area is therefore central to carrying out the operation safely.

The project has not provided a separate vehicle-release schedule within the announced closure period. Motorists should therefore treat the entire three-hour window as a complete traffic stoppage.

Check the exact highway closure schedule

The restriction applies to the Malekhu-Mugling section of the Prithvi Highway. The published notice specifies one continuous closure period.

Details	Information
Date	November 2, 2026
Nepali date	16 Kartik 2083
Closure begins	11:00 AM
Expected reopening	2:00 PM
Total closure	3 hours
Location	Majhimtar, Malekhu-Mugling section
Reason	Installation of pedestrian overpass girder
Vehicles affected	All categories

The timing is particularly important for commercial drivers and long-distance travellers. Vehicles approaching the affected section before 11:00 AM may still face delays if traffic builds up ahead of the closure.

Similarly, drivers arriving shortly before 2:00 PM should not assume that traffic will immediately return to normal at the scheduled reopening time. The project has announced the closure window, but has not provided a detailed traffic-release procedure.

All vehicles affected, including buses and freight transport

The restriction is not limited to private cars or passenger buses. The project has confirmed that all types of vehicles travelling through the Malekhu-Mugling section will be stopped during the installation work.

This means the temporary closure affects several groups of road users.

• Private cars and SUVs: Drivers travelling between Kathmandu and destinations beyond Malekhu should account for the stoppage.
• Passenger buses: Public transport services using this section will be affected during the closure.
• Trucks and freight vehicles: Goods transport operators will need to consider the scheduled interruption when planning their journeys.
• Motorcycles and smaller vehicles: Two-wheelers and other smaller vehicles are also included in the restriction.

The announcement does not identify any exemption for a particular vehicle category. Nor does it specify a separate passage arrangement for emergency or commercial traffic.

For operators running scheduled services, even a short interruption can affect arrival times further along the route. Passengers should check with their transport providers if they have journeys scheduled around the closure period.

What should motorists do before travelling?

The road project has asked drivers and passengers to remain patient and stay at their respective locations while the closure is in effect.

It has also highlighted the importance of lane discipline and compliance with traffic rules. These instructions matter on a busy highway where vehicles may gather on both sides of a temporary work zone.

Motorists should follow these basic precautions:

1. Plan departure times carefully. Avoid scheduling passage through Majhimtar between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
2. Allow additional travel time. Congestion may develop as vehicles wait for the road to reopen.
3. Follow traffic personnel. Do not attempt to bypass barriers or enter the construction area.
4. Maintain lane discipline. Avoid blocking other vehicles while waiting for traffic to resume.
5. Check official updates. Follow information from the road project and traffic authorities for any changes to the schedule.

No alternative diversion route has been specified in the source announcement. Drivers should avoid assuming that a particular local road will be available as a bypass.

Another reminder of the work underway on the Prithvi Highway

The Majhimtar closure is a relatively short interruption, but it highlights the practical challenges of improving a busy highway while keeping it available for everyday travel.

Pedestrian overpasses are intended to provide a dedicated crossing point without requiring people to walk directly across moving traffic. Their installation, however, can require temporary restrictions on the road below, particularly when large structural components need to be positioned.

For motorists, the immediate concern is straightforward. A three-hour closure can disrupt a carefully planned journey, especially when buses, freight vehicles and private traffic reach the same section at once.

The broader context is also important. The Prithvi Highway has faced several disruptions in recent months, including road damage and traffic restrictions in different sections. Previous Prithvi Highway traffic updates have highlighted the challenges of maintaining access following road damage.

Other sections of the wider corridor have also experienced temporary restrictions for construction and road improvement work. The Narayangarh-Mugling road closure schedule provides another example of how construction activity can affect traffic on important highway connections.

For the Majhimtar work, the immediate priority is completing the girder installation and restoring normal vehicle movement. The project has not announced a longer-term closure or provided a completion schedule for the entire pedestrian overpass in this notice.

Drivers should therefore treat November 2 as a specific, time-bound closure and check for further announcements before making subsequent journeys through the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will the Malekhu-Mugling road close?
A: The road is scheduled to close on November 2, 2026, from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The closure will last three hours.

Q: Why is the Prithvi Highway closing at Majhimtar?
A: The closure is required to install the pedestrian overpass girder at Majhimtar. The work is being carried out under the Nagdhunga-Mugling Road Project, Western Section.

Q: Which vehicles are affected by the closure?
A: All categories of vehicles will be stopped during the announced period. This includes private cars, motorcycles, buses, trucks and other road users.

Q: Will the road remain closed after 2:00 PM?
A: The announced closure period ends at 2:00 PM. However, the project has not provided a detailed traffic-release procedure or guaranteed that congestion will clear immediately.

Q: Is there an alternative route during the closure?
A: The source announcement does not identify an alternative route. Motorists should follow instructions from traffic authorities rather than assume a diversion is available.

Q: What work is being carried out at Majhimtar?
A: Workers will install the girder forming part of a pedestrian overpass. The road closure is intended to allow this work to proceed without moving traffic passing through the installation area.