Kavrepalanchok. The Kavrepalanchowk-Sindhuli section of the BP Highway, which was damaged by repeated floods and landslides, will be opened within half an hour if it is obstructed. According to the Division Road Office, Bhaktapur, vehicles will be operated from the reconstructed track within a few days.

Earlier, the short-route highway linking eastern and mid-hill areas of Nepal with the federal capital Kathmandu used to get obstructed during the rainy season. Currently, the office is preparing to bring the highway into operation within half an hour if it is not allowed to be obstructed as much as possible during the rainy season.

“Vehicular movement will be fully allowed from the reconstructed track along the section in a few days keeping in view the rainy season,” said Chief of the office, Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh.

According to him, traffic is being allowed from most of the sections reconstructed in the existing places. Earlier, a temporary diversion was constructed in the river itself, so the diversion was washed away as soon as the water level of the Roshi river rises and the road was blocked.

According to Senior Divisional Engineer Yogesh, the vehicles have been operated from Chaukidanda to Katunjebesi, Lashkot, Charsabesi, Narke, Chiuribas, Boksikuna and Piple. The office has identified Chaukidanda, Charsabesi, Ghumaunebesi, Boksikuna, Chiuribas, Kaldhunga and Piple-Barkhekhola areas as high risk areas. Gravel work has been carried out in the damaged areas while heavy rainstones have been laid in some other places.

The floods and landslides of September 2081 had damaged around 30 kilometers of the highway from Bhakundebesi to Nepalthok. The flood had also swept away the diversion built temporarily in the Roshi River to allow vehicular movement.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is working on the construction of the 3.2-km road from Barkhekhola to Piple. JICA has been filling the soil in the section and placing boulders (big boulders) in it. As per the agreement, contract agreements have been made in four packages—three towards Kavrepalanchowk and one towards Sindhuli.

“The road section to be reconstructed will be of two lanes. A new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing bridge”