Nepal's highway plans

The Nepalese Government is working on plans to build a series of highways that will improve north-south connectivity for this mountainous country.
March 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Key infrastructure improvements are required in Nepal
The Nepalese Government is working on plans to build a series of highways that will improve north-south connectivity for this mountainous country.

A detailed project report (DPR) is underway and is due for completion in July, 2012. The new Karnali road will link Khulalu, Simikot and Hilsa and will be 286km long. The first phase of the Kaligandaki highway will link Gaindakot, Mirmi, Balubang and Phalebas in Parbat and will be 283km long, while its second phase will link Kusma, Phalebas, Setibeni and Mirmi and will be 98km long. The Koshi Corridor highway will pass through Basantapur in Terathum to Kimanthanka and will measure 195km long.

Preparation work was carried out during 2011 with work on the DPR also commencing. In all the planned roads will measure some 1,350km long and the Nepalese Government has already invested US$7.5 million in the DPR, although further funds will be required for the plans to be completed in detail. The various routes will present major engineering challenges however due to Nepal’s altitude and its complex geological conditions.

The scale of the work involved means that international funding sources are likely to be required to help Nepal develop the routes. The country's two large neighbours, China and India, have already provided funds for some of the infrastructure work carried out so far in Nepal and may well become involved in this programme also given the benefits to their own transport connections the plans could provide. The 2332 World Bank and the 943 Asian Development Bank could also be likely future sources of funds, although no announcements regarding financing have yet been released.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Loan for Nepal highway project
    December 6, 2016
    A new highway project in Nepal will benefit from a loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The loan is worth nearly US$187 million. It will be used to help upgrade the country’s East-West Highway. In addition, the loan will will also be used to improve other key sections of Nepal’s road network. Key stretches of the 45km Bhairahawa-Taulihawa road as well as the 115km Narayanghat-Butwal road will be upgraded. Separate funding from the ADB will pay for technical assistance to Nepal’s Department of
    Read More
  • Bolivia’s new highway
    October 10, 2017
    Bolivia’s new highway will provide better access into mountain areas – Mauro Nogarin writes At the beginning of 2015, work began on the construction and paving for the Tupiza - Atocha - Uyuni highway project. The route is located in Bolivia’s Potosí department: it is 189m in length and forms part of the Southwest Basic Road Network (RVF) of Bolivia. The completion of this important route is requiring funding worth US$150 million, of which 72% is being delivered through loans from the European Investment
    Read More
  • Russia’s most expensive road project to commence
    January 15, 2019
    Construction work is being planned for Russia’s most expensive road, which will be built in south of the country – Eugene Gerden reports Work is due to commence shortly on Russia’s most expensive road, in the south of the country. The highway will form part of the existing 1,600km Moscow-Sochi road, according to recent statements from senior officials at the Russian Ministry of Transport as well as local analysts. As part of the project, the Russian Government, together with private investors, plans to
    Read More
  • Kenya rehabilitates, widens, tolls Northern Corridor
    November 8, 2017
    A massive highway project in Kenya will boost transport for the country as well as its neighbours - Shem Oirere reports. Kenya has commenced the process of rehabilitating, expanding and tolling of 657km of East Africa’s Northern Corridor that is anchored on the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa and which links the gateway with landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
    Read More

Highlighted Content