BP Highway to operate 24 hours from tomorrow

KAVREPALANCHOK: The BP Highway, which had been closed to night-time vehicular movement during the monsoon due to flood and landslide risks, will reopen for 24-hour operation starting tomorrow (September 17).

The decision was made on Monday during a meeting of the District Security Committee held at the District Administration Office in Kavrepalanchok.

With the monsoon season coming to an end and major festivals like Dashain and Tihar approaching, the committee agreed to resume full-time highway operations for public convenience, in line with the approved road safety action plan.

According to a public notice issued by the administration, night-time travel along the highway had been completely banned from the last week of July, particularly along the stretch from Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchok to Nepalthok in Sindhuli.

The 12-hour nightly ban was imposed due to high risks of floods and landslides during the monsoon. An earlier extension had been enforced from September 1 for an additional 15 days.

Assistant Chief District Officer Sudarshan Shrestha said that the restrictions were part of safety measures repeatedly communicated to the public. The aim was to minimize casualties and damage during the peak monsoon season.

He added that travel on the BP Highway was particularly dangerous in areas stretching from Kavrebhanjyang in Kavrepalanchok to parts of the Khurkot section in Sindhuli. Vehicles heading toward Kathmandu were stopped at Nepalthok, while those leaving the capital were held at Kavrebhanjyang.

Last year, similar disruptions occurred after floods and landslides in September destroyed nearly eight kilometers of road between Chowkidanda in Kavrepalanchok and Shera Khola in Sindhuli.

The most severely affected sections were the third and fourth segments of the highway—from Khurkot to Nepalthok and from Nepalthok to Dhulikhel.

The administration is currently expediting the process of awarding contracts for the permanent reconstruction of the damaged sections.

As a major highway providing a shorter route to eastern Nepal, the BP Highway handles thousands of vehicles daily and plays a vital role in national transport connectivity.