Lalitpur Residents Deprived of Property Rights Due to Highway Standards: MP Kharel

Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Jagadish Kharel has claimed that residents of several areas in Lalitpur are being denied their constitutional right to property because of the NH-15 national highway standard.

Addressing the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Kharel said the 45-kilometre road section from Gwarko to Dahaltar was brought under the highway standard despite the presence of long-established settlements. As a result, local residents are unable to use their properties as bank collateral or sell them.

He noted that thousands of families had been living in the area before the standard was introduced in 2019 and that historic settlements, including Lubhu, have been affected.

Arguing that national highways should primarily connect inter-provincial or international transport networks, Kharel said the current provision threatens existing communities and could lead to displacement.

He urged the government to review and withdraw the decision through the Cabinet, stressing the need to protect citizens’ property rights, housing rights, and local settlements.