Nepal

The Butwal-Gorusinge-Chanauta section of the East-West highway will be upgraded to a four-lane, the Department of Roads has announced.

The 69-km road upgradation project is set to start next year at the joint initiative of the World Bank and Government of Nepal, according to the department. The cost of the expansion work has been estimated at Rs 32 billion.

Department's Director General Arjun Jung Thapa said the expansion would be carried out with special attention on road safety and environmental conservation.

According to him, seven bridges would be built along the Butwal-Gorusinge-Chanauta section of the highway. "Some of the bridges would be built using modern technology," Thapa said.

The Government and the World Bank are now in the process of making financial agreement for the project. The work is expected to commence in November 2023 and end in November 2026.The road expansion is going to be carried out under 'Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in South Asia-Nepal Phase-1'. Ministry of Physical Planning and Transport, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Department of Forests and Soil Conservation are affiliated with this.

The World Bank has been providing loan assistance to the government for upgrading different highways.The government has been upgrading East-West highway as Asian highway. Construction of 'underpass' and 'overpass' has also been forwarded. - RSS