Kathmandu. The reconstruction of BP Highway, which was damaged by floods and landslides last year and this year, is going on at a rapid pace.

The flood in the Roshi River following the incessant rain had damaged around 28-km section of the Kavrepalanchowk-Sindhuli section of the highway.

The damaged road has been divided into five sections and reconstruction has been forwarded. Of the 25-km road reconstruction in four sections, the reconstruction works are underway after signing a contract agreement. As per the agreement, the reconstruction will be completed within two years.

The remaining 3-km stretch will be reconstructed with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The design has been approved and the tender process is underway.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development Kulman Ghising made an on-site visit of the area on Thursday and took stock of the road reconstruction works.

On the occasion, MD at Department of Roads Bijay Jaishi, Chief of Federal Road Supervision and Monitoring Office Kathmandu Subraj Neupane and other officials reached the site and discussed about the ongoing reconstruction of various sections of the road, the schedule of completion of the reconstruction, the temporary arrangement of dissociation for the operation of the transport and the preparatory status of the JICA construction section, among others.

Stating that a diversion has been constructed temporarily from the river bank for vehicles at present and the diversion would not work with the onset of monsoon, Minister Ghising urged the bodies concerned to pay special attention towards this and complete the construction of the required infrastructures before the rainy season. He directed the project management and contractors to make arrangements for additional hydropower and electricity to work at night also.

The BP Highway, which is important to connect the federal capital with the eastern region, was completed with the grant assistance of the Government of Japan. The 160-km BP Highway was damaged by floods last year. It was damaged in 5 kilometers. The existing intermediate lane is being reconstructed into a two-lane section of the damaged highway.