Kathmandu. Road upgradation is taking place in a rapid manner along the Rasuwagadhi section. The Galchhi-Trishuli-Mailung-Rasuwagadhi International Highway is being upgraded from Syafrubesi to Rasuwagadhi with the objective of further consolidating historic friendship, trade relations and economic cooperation between Nepal and China.

According to the Galchhi-Trishuli-Mailung-Rasuwagadhi Road Project Office, the Chinese government has provided financial and technical support for the upgrading of the road section. According to the Department of Roads, the Chinese government had constructed the road before as well.

Kumar Parajuli, an engineer and an on-site supervisor of the project, said that the project being operated through Chinese company with financial and technical support of the Chinese government has accelerated the construction of the road with the objective of making the road modern, safe and sustainable. He said the project to make Rasuwagadhi, also known as the northern trade point of Nepal, more systematic and well-equipped is seen as another example of Nepal-China cooperation.

Parajuli said that in the first phase, the construction of machinery support walls, wall cutting and road safety structures is being carried out in a rapid manner. According to him, although the construction of walls and wall cutting works have started in some places, the cutting of trees has been delayed in some places falling within the Langtang National Park area as permission for cutting down trees has not been obtained.

According to the project, around seven percent of the work has been completed so far. The construction company has already constructed housing for workers and technicians near the highway above Ronga Dovan. Parajuli said that the residential system has made it easier to mobilize human resources at the work site.

“The government of Nepal has already given permission to collect pebbles and sand from local streams to facilitate the construction. However, the pace of construction has been affected in some areas due to lack of approval for trees to be cut down in course of the road expansion”, he said.

A total of 39 months has been determined to complete the up-grading of the 16-kilometer Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi section. Trade, tourism, transit and people-to-people movement between Nepal and China are expected to be smooth and effective after the completion of the road upgradation.

Meanwhile, a notice has been issued to the concerned side to remove the structures in Timure area as the locals have reconstructed huts on both sides of the road which was acquired in 2065 BS. The flooded Lhende River on July 9 last year and erosion by the Bhotekoshi River had caused major damages to different parts of the road.

Parajuli said that the up-gradation of roads has been given more priority especially in Tatopani hill, Ghattekhola, southern cliff of Ghattekhola and Pakho under Timure village after the poor road infrastructure.

The project is believed to further strengthen age-old trade and cultural relations between Nepal and China and is expected to add a new dimension to the infrastructure development along the northern border.

Locals and stakeholders have expressed the belief that with the upgradation of the road, there will be a significant increase in bilateral trade, tourism promotion and regional economic activities via Rasuwagadhi transit point.