Kathmandu, April 16 -- A one-and-a-half-year-old Supreme Court verdict in relation to the Nagdhunga-Kalanki road expansion has affected a number of road projects in the Valley.

The top court on September 18, 2017 made it mandatory for the government to compensate landowners before acquiring land for expanding the 9-km Nagdhunga-Kalanki road.

After the verdict, the government in July last year decided to expand the Nagdhunga-Kalanki road and the Chabahil-Sankhu road "in whatever space was available" without acquiring land from the public.

Locals whose land and houses would be acquired by the government for road expansion were obstructing works in both road sections. They also moved the Supreme Court, demanding a halt to expansion works....