Skip to main content

New highway infrastructure planned for Nepal

Interest is said to be strong for a key highway project in Nepal. The project to build the US$1.02 billion Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track route has attracted interest from China in the shape of the China Infrastructure Investment Corporation (CIIC) and from India with Reliance Infrastructure, and Shapoorji Pallonji. The 76km highway will commence at Khokana and connect capital Kathmandu with Nijgadh. Should CIIC win the deal it has said it will source funding from China’s Exim Bank. The project has been hit by
March 18, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Interest is said to be strong for a key highway project in Nepal. The project to build the US$1.02 billion Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track route has attracted interest from China in the shape of the China Infrastructure Investment Corporation (CIIC) and from India with 1234 Reliance Infrastructure, and Shapoorji Pallonji. The 76km highway will commence at Khokana and connect capital Kathmandu with Nijgadh. Should CIIC win the deal it has said it will source funding from China’s Exim Bank. The project has been hit by various delays and is being offered under a build-operate-own transfer concession package to attract investors. The 5283 Nepalese Government has vowed to improve connections from the capital and the highway is needed both to upgrade the country’s links with its neighbours as well as to join with the proposed second international airport at Nijgadh. Land acquisition for the project is underway, although there have been some changes to the route and it will now run alongside the Bagmati River rather than the earlier proposed route. Some sections of the road, which will connect Kthamndu with the Southern Plains, have been constructed already by the Nepalese Army. The Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track project is one seen as of key importance for Nepal, along with the Kathmandu-Hetauda Tunnel Highway. Both projects have so far been delayed due to funding issues but now look to be gaining momentum.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A key expressway project is due in Nepal
    July 26, 2012
    The Nepalese Government plans to open a key expressway project to tender. The Ministry of Physical Planning works and Transport Management is inviting bidders to show their interest in the construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh-Pathlaiya Terai/Madesh Expressway project. This new road link is intended to be offered under a PPP/BOT model. The 76km expressway is expected to cost US$853 million to construct. A feasibility study has been carried out and the expressway will be designed to meet the Class – A Catego
  • Nepal road transport plan finds funding
    February 27, 2017
    Nepal’s Kathmandu-Tarai highway now looks likely to be built under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. This is a revision from the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model previously suggested. Nepal's Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has announced the change for the project, which had an estimated cost of US$1.04 billion when put forward in 2015. The detailed project report (DPR) for the highway is likely to be set out by consortium, from India. The Nepalese Governm
  • New funding helping Nepal plan for road development
    January 5, 2016
    The Nepalese Government is planning to spend a healthy US$ 1.3billion on developing major infrastructure projects. New roads and highways as well as energy projects are being prioritised. Funding will be provided jointly through the World Bank and the US Government body the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC), as well as the Government of Nepal. The Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track project has been suggested as a top priority. One-third of the funding will come from the World Bank, MCC and government while the
  • Projects planned for Nepalese highway network
    January 9, 2014
    A series of major trade routes are being upgraded in Nepal, which are intended to help boost bilateral trade with neighbouring India and China. This will see four key trade routes being upgraded to six lanes. These are the; Butwal-Belhiya, Rani-Ithari, Surybinayak-Dhulikhel and Birgunj-Pathalaiya highway sections. Work is already underway on the Butwal-Belihiya and Rani-Ithari highway sections while work is also being planned for the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel and Birgunj-Pathalaiya highways. Of the 24km stretc