KAVREPALANCHOWK: Permanent reconstruction of the BP Highway, which was repeatedly damaged by floods and landslides, is currently progressing at a rapid pace.
According to the Division Road Office Bhaktapur, reconstruction work has been intensified at three locations along the damaged sections of the highway, which serves as the shortest route linking eastern and mid-hill regions of Nepal with the federal capital Kathmandu.
Office chief and Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh said infrastructure development at high-risk areas is being accelerated with the aim of completing major structures before the upcoming monsoon and resuming vehicle operations along the highway.
He said the reconstruction could be completed within two years based on the current pace of work. So far, about 25 percent progress has been made in three contracted road sections on the Kavrepalanchok District side.
The reconstruction process formally began last Mangsir after floods and landslides in September 2024 and subsequent monsoon damage further deteriorated the road sections.
Among the four damaged sections, the 3.2-kilometre stretch from Barkhekhola to Piple will be rebuilt with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with the contract expected to be finalized within this month.
Protective infrastructure, including RCC retaining walls, is being constructed at several vulnerable sites. Plumb walls are being built at Chaukidanda, while RCC walls are under construction in areas including Chaarseybesi and Bhakundebesi. Road widening works are also underway in sections such as Dalabesi, Mangaltar and between Chaarseybesi and Narke.
Engineers have designed flood-resilient structures at locations where the road had previously been completely washed out. Reconstruction of the damaged sections in Kavrepalanchok and Sindhuli District is expected to be completed within two years.
The reconstruction plan includes upgrading the road to a two-lane standard. Bridges along the route will also be expanded by constructing parallel bridges to accommodate two lanes.
According to the office, contracts have been awarded for several sections, including the 8.5-kilometre stretch from Dalabesi to Chaarseybesi and the 11.08-kilometre section from Chaarseybesi to Bhakundebesi. Another 4.9-kilometre section from Nepalthok to Barkhekhola has also been contracted.
Of the total 29.5 kilometres of damaged road, the Barkhekhola–Piple section will be reconstructed with a grant worth Rs 2.63 billion from JICA. The government has already awarded contracts for the remaining sections.
The government has approved a budget of Rs 8.5 billion for the reconstruction, with Rs 7.5 billion allocated for sections in Kavrepalanchok and Rs 1 billion for the section in Sindhuli.
The BP Highway, built with grant assistance from the Government of Japan, began construction in fiscal year 1996/97 and was officially handed over to the Government of Nepal on July 3, 2015.
The highway is considered a key and shorter route connecting Kathmandu with eastern and mid-hill regions of the country.
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