Four blocked highways to reopen by Sunday, BP Highway unlikely to open before Dashain

KATHMANDU: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, has stated that rescuing the vehicles stranded on the BP Highway is the government’s top priority.

Minister Dahal made this remark while addressing a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives on Friday.

He explained that hundreds of vehicles, along with their drivers and helpers, were stranded on the BP Highway due to the road network being cut off.

The government is working to rescue them, he said, clarifying that it will not be possible to reopen the BP Highway before Dashain.

The minister also emphasized that the government is committed to rescuing citizens affected by disasters across the country. He shared that the Department of Roads is operating with the efficiency of the Nepal Army, with employees working even during holidays and utilizing various equipment to carry out the necessary work.

During the meeting, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Keshav Kumar Sharma, provided an update on the efforts to reopen obstructed highways. He said that of the five obstructed highways, work is underway to clear the Larcha-Kodari section of the Araniko Highway, the Dolalghat-Rakthum section of the Mid-Hills Highway, the Ghapeli-Bagwa section of the Kanti Highway, and the Ramite-Phidim section of the Mechi Highway. He added that all of these highways are expected to be fully reopened by Sunday.

Secretary Sharma also highlighted that the concerned authorities’ staff members are working round the clock to resolve the situation.