KAVREPALANCHOWK: Authorities have completed preparations to reopen the Kavrepalanchowk-Sindhuli section of the BP Highway within 30 minutes if it is blocked by floods or landslides during the monsoon.
The Divisional Road Office, Bhaktapur, said reconstruction of the highway, which suffered extensive damage from repeated floods and landslides, is nearing completion. Vehicles are expected to begin operating on the reconstructed sections within the next few days.
Previously, the highway—one of the main road links connecting eastern and mid-hill districts with the federal capital, Kathmandu—would often become impassable shortly after heavy rainfall. This year, officials say they are better prepared to keep the road operational and restore traffic quickly in the event of any disruption.
“With the monsoon in mind, vehicles will soon be able to operate fully on the reconstructed sections. If the highway is blocked by a disaster, we have made arrangements to reopen it within half an hour. The required equipment and machinery have already been deployed,” said Suman Yogesh, Senior Divisional Engineer and chief of the Divisional Road Office.
According to Yogesh, most of the damaged stretches have been reconstructed along their original alignment. Previously, temporary diversions built across the Roshi River were frequently washed away whenever water levels rose, resulting in repeated road closures.
At present, vehicles are operating along the old alignment from Chowkidanda through Katunjebesi, Lashkat, Charsayabesi, Narke, Chiuribas, Boksikuna and Piple. The office has identified Chowkidanda, Charsayabesi, Ghumaunebesi, Boksikuna, Chiuribas, Kaldhunga and the Piple-Barkhekhola section as high-risk areas. Gravel has been laid on vulnerable sections, while large boulders have been placed at several locations to strengthen the roadway.
Floods and landslides triggered in September 2024 damaged around 30 kilometres of the highway between Bhakundebesi and Nepalthok. Temporary diversions built across the Roshi River to maintain traffic were also swept away by floodwaters.
Of the four major damaged sections, the 3.2-kilometre stretch between Barkhekhola and Piple is being reconstructed with grant assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The agency is carrying out earth filling and slope protection using large boulders. Reconstruction has been divided into four contract packages—three in Kavrepalanchok and one in Sindhuli.
“The reconstructed highway will be a two-lane road, and a new bridge will be built alongside the existing one,” Yogesh said, adding that five existing bridges will also be upgraded to two-lane structures.
Of the total 29.5 kilometres of damaged roadway, JICA has committed a grant of Rs 2.63 billion for the reconstruction of the 3.2-kilometre Barkhekhola-Piple section.
Construction of the 160-kilometre BP Highway, which connects Dhulikhel, Sindhuli and Bardibas, began in the fiscal year 2053/54 with grant assistance from the Government of Japan.
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