KAVREPALANCHOWK: Permanent reconstruction of the BP Highway, which was damaged by repeated floods and landslides, began two months ago and has now gained momentum.
The Division Road Office, Bhaktapur, said reconstruction work has been accelerated at three locations along the damaged sections of the highway, a key short route connecting eastern and mid-hill regions of Nepal with the federal capital, Kathmandu.
The reconstruction of damaged sections in Kavrepalanchowk and Sindhuli is targeted for completion within the next two years. According to the office, work has started on three sections of the BP Highway.
Office Chief and Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh said three construction companies have been deployed in flood-affected areas to carry out intensive reconstruction work. However, he noted that work on one section to be reconstructed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has yet to begin.
“JICA is conducting further studies and has stated that it will start work soon,” Yogesh said. He added that RCC walls are being installed at several locations damaged by last year’s floods. Plumb walls are under construction along the river in Chowkidanda, while RCC walls have already been built in Charsayabesi and Bhakundebesi. Road widening is also underway in Dalabesi, the Mangaltar section, and the Charsayabesi–Narke stretch.
Designs have been prepared to construct flood-resilient structures at locations where roads were completely washed away last year and this year. Structures in flood-damaged areas are expected to be completed by April-May, allowing traffic to operate from the original alignment during the coming monsoon season, without the need for diversions along riverbanks.
This year’s work includes the construction of protective structures, road widening, and related works, while next year will focus on completing remaining structures and blacktopping. Landslides damaged about 30 kilometers of the highway in the Kavrepalanchowk and Sindhuli sections. The office said permanent reconstruction has begun on sections that were temporarily reopened after last year’s landslides.
Yogesh said the highway will be upgraded to a two-lane road as part of the reconstruction. “Two-lane roads will be constructed on the reconstructed sections, and additional bridges will be built alongside existing ones to make them two-lane,” he said, adding that studies are underway to widen five bridges.
Khani–Avon–Kamaljit JV has been awarded a contract worth Rs 1.4237 billion (including VAT) to reconstruct an 8.5-km section from Dalabesi to Charsayabesi. Lama–Nawakantipur JV has received a Rs 1.3353 billion contract to rebuild the 11.08-km Charsayabesi–Bhakundebesi section. Meanwhile, Kharidhunga–Ghising–Kshitij JV has signed a Rs 610 million contract to reconstruct the 4.90-km Nepalthok–Barkhekhola stretch.
Of the total 29.5 km of damaged road, a 3.2-km section from Barkhekhola to Piple will be reconstructed by JICA. Yogesh said the contract process for this section is underway, and Japan has signed a memorandum of understanding to provide a Rs 2.63 billion grant for the work.
The government has allocated Rs 8.5 billion for the reconstruction of the damaged highway. Of this, Rs 7.5 billion has been earmarked for three sections in Kavrepalanchowk and Rs 1 billion for one section in Sindhuli.
Construction of the 160-km BP Highway (Dhulikhel–Sindhuli–Bardibas) began in fiscal year 2053/54 with grant assistance from the Government of Japan. The BP Highway is regarded as the shortest route connecting Kathmandu with the mid-hills and eastern Nepal.
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