KATHMANDU: Travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara—Nepal’s federal and tourism capitals—is becoming increasingly convenient as the Mugling–Pokhara road upgrade project under the Prithvi Highway gains momentum.
The 81-kilometer section from Aanbukhaireni in Tanahun to Pokhara has been divided into two sections—eastern and western—for expansion and upgrading. Tourists and locals alike are beginning to feel the positive impact of the improvements.
Work on the western section, from Jamune to Pokhara, is progressing rapidly. Of this section, 20.5 kilometers is being upgraded to a four-lane road, and 18.3 kilometers will become a six-lane road. The project also includes the construction of 12 new bridges—4 large and 8 small—to improve connectivity.
The project is being implemented by Chinese construction company Yanhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction, under a contract worth Rs 7.4 billion. However, the deadline has already been extended twice due to delays in construction.
Meanwhile, the eastern section of the road has achieved 81 percent physical progress, according to the Department of Roads. Efforts are underway to complete the remaining work within the current fiscal year.
Only 5 kilometers of road remain to be blacktopped in the Damauli Bazaar, Bimalnagar, and Nahala Bridge areas. The base layer has been laid in Damauli Bazaar, while wall construction is ongoing in Bimalnagar.
All 17 planned bridges in the eastern section have been completed, while work on the Madi Bridge, contracted separately, is 68 percent complete.
Construction on this section was started by China Communication Construction in April 2021 under a contract worth Rs 6.21 billion. A six-lane road is being built in Damauli and Dumre Bazaar, with four lanes in the remaining areas.
The upgraded road is expected to not only ease traffic flow but also boost tourism and economic activities in the region by providing a safer and faster connection between the country’s two key cities.
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