MORANG: The construction of the Asian Highway, aimed at connecting Asian countries through an extensive road network, is gaining momentum.
Twelve percent of the work has been completed within the first year, according to officials.
The 120-km stretch from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi, part of Asian Highway No. 2, was originally scheduled for an upgrade.
However, the upgrading work is currently being carried out on only 95.76 kilometers of the road under contract.
The 95.76 km section of the highway is being divided into two parts: the eastern and western sections.
The eastern section, spanning 45 km from Kakarbhitta to Sitapur, will be managed by the Damak-based office, while the western section, from Sitapur to Pachrukhi (west of Itahari), will be overseen by the Itahari office.
According to officials from both offices, 12 percent of the work has been completed over the past year.
Sunil Babu Panta, Head of the Damak office for the project, stated that the goal is to blacktop at least 20 kilometers of road by the end of this fiscal year.
Similarly, Jagat Prajapati, Chief of the Itahari office for the West Section project, noted that the first phase of blacktopping, covering at least 10 kilometers, is also targeted for completion within the current fiscal year.
Rajendra Raut, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), emphasized the potential for international trade that the Asian Highway brings, particularly because it connects Nepal to Bangladesh via India within just 27 kilometers.
The highway’s operation will reduce the cost of imports and exports and provide rural enterprises with access to international markets, he added.
The Asian Highway starts in Bangkok, Thailand, and passes through Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, extending to Karachi. In Nepal, it follows the East-West Highway and passes through Kakarbhitta.
Construction of the road began in January last year, with financial support from the Asian Development Bank, and is scheduled to be completed within three years.
The project is estimated to cost 300 million USD and will include the construction of 48 bridges and 10 overpasses (both small and large) along the 95.76 km stretch.
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