BP Highway Section in Kabhrepalanchok-Sindhuli to Reopen Within Hours After Blockage

Kabhrepalanchok. Preparations have been made to open the BP Highway section in Kabhrepalanchok-Sindhuli, which was damaged by repeated floods and landslides and has started reconstruction, within half an hour if it gets blocked again. The Division Road Office Bhaktapur has stated that vehicles will be operated from the reconstructed track within a few days along with the reconstruction.< p>

This short-distance highway, connecting the eastern and central hilly regions of Nepal with the federal capital Kathmandu, used to be blocked as soon as it rained. The office is now preparing to bring the highway back into operation within half an hour if it gets blocked, and to ensure it is not blocked during the monsoon as much as possible.< p>

“Considering the monsoon, vehicles will be fully operational from the reconstructed track in sections within a few days. Preparations have been made to clear any blockages within half an hour in case of disruption due to disasters. The necessary equipment has been kept ready for this,” said Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh, the office chief.< p>

According to him, traffic is already operating from most of the sections reconstructed in their original locations. Previously, temporary diversions were built in the rivers, causing the diversions to be washed away and the road to be blocked as soon as the flow of the Roshi River increased.< p>

According to Senior Divisional Engineer Yogesh, vehicles are being operated from the old track from Chowkidanda to Katunjebesi, Lashkot, Charasaybesi, Narke, Chiuribas, Bokshikuna, and Pipale. The office has identified Chowkidanda, Charasaybesi, Ghumainbesi, Bokshikuna, Chiuribas, Kaladhunga, and Pipale-Barkhekhola areas as high-risk zones. Gravel work has been done in the damaged areas, and roads have been prepared in some other places by placing large stones for the rain.< p>

The flood and landslides in October 2081 BS had damaged about 30 kilometers of the highway from Bhukundebesi to Nepalgunj. The temporary diversion built in the Roshi River for vehicle operation was also washed away by the flood.< p>

The 3.2-kilometer section from Barkhekhola to Pipale, one of the four damaged sections, is being constructed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA is filling the soil and placing boulders in this section. Contracts have been signed for four packages, three on the Kabhrepalanchok side and one on the Sindhuli side, of the highway.< p>

“The reconstructed road section will be two lanes. Along with the currently operational bridge, another new bridge will be constructed,” said Yogesh. According to him, there is a plan to convert five bridges into two lanes. Out of the total damaged 29.5 kilometers of road, JICA has agreed to provide a grant of Rs 2.63 billion for the 3.2-kilometer road from Barkhekhola to Pipale.< p>

The BP Highway (Dhulikhel-Sindhuli-Bardibas 160 km road) construction was started in fiscal year 2053/54 with financial assistance from the Government of Japan.< p>

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