How much work has been done on East-West Highway expansion?

Kathmandu. Work is underway to expand the East-West Highway, which is the ‘lifeline’ of the country. The 1,027-kilometer-long highway from Kakarbhitta in Jhapa to Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur passing through the Terai and inner Madhes is being expanded by dividing it into seven sections. The Department of Roads has stated that the highway is being widened to 6 lanes in the market area (8 lanes including service lanes) and 4 lanes in rural and forest areas.

This highway connecting the far east and far west of the country is also the main road connecting the north and south of the country. Considered strategic even from the point of view of economic development of the country, this highway is also included in the road network connecting East Asia to Europe by land. Similarly, the Asian road network is being expanded with more importance as it includes some north-south routes including east-west of Nepal.

Work is being done in five sections under the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Highway Improvement Project with loan and concessional assistance provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Similarly, work will be done in two sections with the assistance of the World Bank. The Department of Roads has stated that the work has been started by projecting that the entire work of East-West Highway expansion will be completed in seven years.

Kakarbhittaa-Laukhi Saptakoshi East section (120 km) road is being designed

Highway expansion in this section is being carried out with ADB loan and grant assistance. The consulting firm is currently working on a road design in this area. Work such as field survey, geological survey, geographical technical study, geological condition study has been completed. Based on the facts obtained from the study, engineering study and design work is being done on what level the highway should be and where the structure should be built. Sushil Babu Dhakal, project director of the ADB Road Planning Directorate, told Makalu Khabar that the road construction will start after the completion of the design work in this section.

Prakash Upadhyay, deputy team leader engineer of the Korean company Susung Engineering, said that the six bridges in this section have been designed to become special landmark bridges. “Space landmark bridges are being built on six rivers including Mikwa Khola, Juling, Ratuwa, Kankai, Mahendra and Bakraha,” he said. The target is to complete all the work in this area by 2078 BS. The same company has an agreement to provide technical assistance for the preparation of tender documents for road construction in these sections and also to assist in the work of tender evaluation.

Construction of Kanchanpur-Kamala Khandak (87 km) highway is being started

The work of widening the 87 km section from Kanchanpur to Kamala is being started with the assistance of ADB. “A contract has been signed for this section,” project director Dhakal told Makalu Khabar. “Construction is underway after completion of joint survey, design review and other works.”

Consultant being selected for Kamala-Pathlaiya section (130 km) design

The project is being implemented under the Strategic Road Connectivity and Transport Improvement Project with an investment of Rs. 50 billion from the World Bank. Currently, the study work in this section has been completed. And, it is in the process of selecting a consultant for the design work. Senior Divisional Engineer of the Foreign Aid Implementation Division of the Road Department Laxmi Dutta Bhatta informed Makalu Khabar that the evaluation of those who came through bids for the selection of consultants has been completed and now an agreement is being prepared.

Pathlaiya-Narayangarh section (120 km) is being designed

Highway design work is also being done in this section. The design work is being done by studying the condition of the necessary bridges, culverts and other structures in the road section on the basis of the facts obtained after the study. ‘The bridges under construction are 50 years old.’ Director Dhakal said, ‘Studies are underway on whether the bridges can be used or rebuilt.’

Narayangarh-Butwal section (113 km) under construction

Road expansion is underway on the 113-kilometer highway from Narayangarh to Butwal. Construction has been started in this section after completing contract management. ADB has also provided assistance in this area.

Butwal-Gorusinge section (50 km) is being designed

Work is being done in this section with the loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank. Currently, work is underway to design 50 kilometers of road in this section. The project has stated that the procurement process will be started to start the road expansion with the completion of the design.

World Bank to conduct feasibility study on Gorusinge-Gaddachauki section (390 km)

The feasibility study of 390 km road extension from Gorusinge to GaddaChauki of Kanchanpur has been agreed in principle by the World Bank. The rest of the work will move forward only after the feasibility study is completed.