Skip to main content

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).

Related Content

  • Loan to boost key Nepal road works
    May 29, 2023
    A loan will boost works on a key Nepal road.
  • Nepal road projects moving forward
    August 11, 2017
    A series of road projects is being awarded in Nepal. The announcements over the winning tenders for 13 projects is being made in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Financing worth US$300 million is being provided from Indian sources.
  • Foreign firms bid offer for Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Project
    July 20, 2012
    The Nepalese government is inviting overseas firms to submit expressions of interest in taking part in the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Project. The built-operate-transfer-based project will cost over US$ 906.41million (NPR 80bn). The expressway will span across 76kms. As much as 10% investment on the project's total cost can be invested by Nepali firms via joint venture or a consortium with overseas companies.
  • Nepal bridge building receiving funding
    June 4, 2018
    Financing from the World Bank will help pay for bridge building work in Nepal. The road from Muglin to Narayanghat is being widened currently, which will see the route featuring a lane in either direction, rather than the single lane that carries all traffic at present. This will boost its capacity and reduce delays to drivers on the route, which carries around 20,000 vehicles/day. Improving the 36km, north-south route however requires the construction of 18 new bridges. Much of the route is already surface