Repairs begin as temporary tracks open on BP Highway

KAVREPALANCHOWK: With the opening of temporary tracks on several flood-damaged sections of the BP Highway, repair work has now commenced. The highway, which had been blocked by floods for a week, was officially reopened on Saturday morning.

The Division Road Office in Bhaktapur reported that although diversions have been created in the affected areas, repairs are ongoing on the narrow and challenging stretches.

Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh said the current repair efforts aim to facilitate smoother travel on the highway during the upcoming Tihar festival.

He added that three machines are actively repairing the road, while additional equipment remains on standby at various locations. The office has been working continuously for five days to restore roads damaged and eroded by the floods.

The highway, closed for a week, was reopened on Saturday by establishing diversions at 19 damaged sites along Rajmarga. The office credited the efforts of around two dozen machines working overnight for enabling vehicle movement starting Saturday.

By Friday evening, a temporary track had been opened and tested along the highway stretch from Chowkidanda in Namobuddha Municipality-6 of Kavrepalanchok to Mamti in Roshi Rural Municipality.

Yogesh confirmed that diversions have been completed at multiple locations including Chowkidanda, Katunje-Ghumaune, Charsayabesi, Gimdibesi, Narke, Chiuribas, Boksikuna, Kaldhunga, Dalabesi, four sites in Piple, and two sites in Mamti, allowing full traffic operation.

These diversions involved redirecting the river flow along the Kavrepalanchok section of the highway. The office has urged drivers and passengers to exercise special caution while traveling through these areas.

The Division Road Office also completed diversion works at 16 locations in Kavrepalanchok and three in Sindhuli, with the track opening on Friday afternoon.

Flooding from the Roshi River had washed away approximately four kilometers of the road in the Roshi area. After similar flood and landslide damage last year, temporary diversions had been constructed to maintain road access.

The BP Highway, a crucial route connecting eastern Nepal, sees thousands of vehicles daily. The office is currently advancing contract processes for permanent reconstruction in four sections of the damaged highway.