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Nepal road upgrades being planned

A series of infrastructure upgrades are planned for Nepal that will help improve its economic development. A key infrastructure requirement for Nepal is the development of its road network. In a move to tackle the issue, Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has initiated the strategy for the development of roads in all 75 districts by 2022. About US$7.5 billion has been estimated as being required for the completion of this project. Funding will require financing from internal sources
November 28, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A new bridge is being built connecting Tanahun and Chitwan for the Prithvi Highway , which lies upstream of the old Mungling Bridge over Trishuli River
RSSA series of infrastructure upgrades are planned for Nepal that will help improve its economic development. A key infrastructure requirement for Nepal is the development of its road network. In a move to tackle the issue, Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has initiated the strategy for the development of roads in all 75 districts by 2022.

About US$7.5 billion has been estimated as being required for the completion of this project. Funding will require financing from internal sources and substantial foreign investment. This exclusive report has been provided by World Highways correspondent in Nepal, Ram Krishna Wagle.

After the completion of the five year project, there will be five highways connecting India and China through Rani-Itahari-Dhankuta-Leguwaghat-khadibari-kimthanka way (310km) and Thori-Bhandara-Malekhu-Galxi-Trishuli-BetriBati-Sheyfubasi-Rasuwagadi way (188km) respectively.

Similarly, Belhiya-Bhairawa-Palpa-Ramdi-Kaligandaki-RudraBani-Maldhunga-Beni-Jomsom-Chaile-korla way (390km), Birgunj-Narayanghat-Kathmandu-Tatopani way (392km) and Kathmandu-Terai fast track (73km) has been designed so as to meet the strategy.

Under this project, the government planned Jamunaha-Nepalgunj-Baghesiyal-khulalu-semikot-lelsa road (521km) will be built. At present, Nepal has only one East-West Highway but the plans call for three highways connecting east to west according to a government official.

According to an official, Postal highway; Puspalal (mid hill), East-west highway and Dharan-Hetuada-Tulsipur-Surkhet highway will be constructed. Likewise other 17 roads (654km) are estimated to complete by 2020. Similarly, the Nadha-Koshi pool chatar rupnagar road (61km,  Biratnagar ringroad (42km), Leghughat-Bhojpur (65km), Mathanthal- Ramechapa road (13km), Halesi-dhiktal road (35km), Mechi pool-Chandragadi-Birtamod road (12km) will be completed with this project.

Similarly, the Kathmandu ring road (27km) and Bhaktapur-Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel road (17km) road will be upgraded to four lanes within two years and five years respectively.

Within four years Nepal’s Government has plans to construct a series of two lanes roads. These are; Karnti Lokmarga (92km), Dkashinkali-Chaimalay-Sesnari-Khulekhani road (45km) and Sitapaila-Dharkay (24km). Lamosaghu-Tamakoshi-Jiri road (55km), Sahid Marg road Gorahi-Ghartigau (42km), Pokhara ring road (82km), Safebagar-Martadi road (28km), Bardaghat-Paladada-Tribeni road (13km), Balaju-Ranipauwa-Kakani-Trishuli road (53km), Chaharay-Bidur road (17km), Balkhu-Dhashinkali road (12km), Bhaktapur-Nagarkot-Sipakot road (16km), Bharatpur-Rampur-Meghauli road (16km), Janakpur ring road (74km) and Silgadi-Safnebagar road (65km).

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