BP Highway Reconstruction Accelerates After Flood Damage

Kathmandu. Reconstruction work on the BP Highway, devastated by floods eight months ago, is progressing rapidly. The road reconstruction, whose foundation stone was laid two days ago by Secretary of Infrastructure Development Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Maeda Toru, and others, has gained momentum.

The reconstruction of the highway is being carried out with the support of Japan. The flood and landslides last year had damaged a 30-kilometer section of the BP Highway. The highway is being upgraded and reconstructed with the financial and technical assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the investment of the Nepal government.

Under Japan's assistance, the 3.2 km Pipale-Barkhekhola section will be constructed by Shimizu Corporation with a grant of 2.8 billion yen from the Japanese government, while the Nepal government has already approved a budget of 8.5 billion rupees for three other sections with its own investment.

Under this, work is in full swing with contracts awarded for three sections on the Kavre side and one section in Sindhuli. Along with reconstruction, this highway will now be two lanes. Five bridges on the road will also be converted to two lanes. To prevent further damage from floods, work on constructing 'RCC' walls, plunge walls, and widening the road has been intensified. This project, which aims to complete the blacktopping and other works within the next year, is expected to make the BP Highway safer and more organized than before.

Construction of this highway began in 2053 BS with assistance from Japan and was handed over to Nepal in 2072 BS.

Secretary of Infrastructure Development Sigdel also monitored the reconstruction of the highway. During his monitoring, he instructed the construction entrepreneurs to complete the work on time.