Sanga Underpass Construction Nears Completion

Kathmandu. The physical progress of the underpass being constructed at Sanga, the main gateway to the Kathmandu Valley from eastern Nepal, has been completed by about 95 percent. With the completion of the main structure and approach road construction, travel here will become easier and safer.

This modern structure, considered the most important and attractive part of the Arniko Highway under the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road expansion project, is believed to make the past suffering of travelers a thing of the past.

Physical Status and Technical Details of the Underpass

The total length of this underpass, designed systematically from a geographical and engineering perspective, is 1,110 meters. The latest status of the project is as follows:

Road Structure: Of the total length, the 'approach road' includes 190 meters towards Banepa and 900 meters towards Bhaktapur.

Main Underpass: Its main structure is 18 meters long, with a height of 6 meters and a width of 10.5 meters.

Current Progress: The first phase of blacktopping has been completed, and work on installing the side retaining wall and the final phase of blacktopping is progressing rapidly.

New Traffic Management System

Once this project is fully completed, vehicles going from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur towards Banepa will travel through the easy route of the underpass, while vehicles coming from Banepa into Kathmandu will use the upper road.

Special Arrangement for Monsoon Season

To prevent traffic management from being disrupted during the remaining road work, special arrangements have been made for now. To ensure safety and ease of work on the upper lane, preparations are underway to operate both outbound and inbound vehicles through the two lanes of this underpass.

Status of the Overall Road Expansion Project

The Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road expansion project, which is 15.8 kilometers long, is being upgraded in two sections:

• First section: Suryabinayak to Sanga (7.5 kilometers)
• Second section: Sanga to Dhulikhel (8.3 kilometers)

Construction work on the Sanga to Dhulikhel road is progressing much faster compared to the first section. The construction period has been extended to the end of Falgun 2083 after the project's deadline was extended for the second time.

According to project sources, with the overall physical progress of the project reaching around 95 percent, the entire road work is targeted to be completed within this year. With the construction of the Sanga underpass, this infrastructure will prove to be an important milestone in saving time for the general public traveling on the Arniko Highway and in traffic management. Photo: Suryams Upreti/Nepal Photo Library