Repair work begins at 14 locations on BP Highway

KATHMANDU: Repair work has begun on various sections of the BP Highway that were severely damaged by floods and landslides in mid-October.

According to the Bhaktapur Division Road Office, restoration efforts are underway from Chauki Danda in Namobuddha Municipality to Nepalthok, the border area between Kavrepalanchok and Sindhuli.

Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh stated that diversions have been created in riverbeds, and gravel is being filled up to three meters in height in damaged sections. In difficult areas, wire mesh reinforcement is being used to elevate the road.

To ensure smooth transportation during the upcoming monsoon, the repair work includes widening and leveling the damaged road and raising its height by around three meters above the Roshi River’s surface.

Out of the total 13 kilometers of damaged road, eight kilometers will be repaired in the first phase, with plans for the remaining sections underway.

The Department of Roads has mobilized equipment and workforce to repair 14 damaged locations. “Since the government is in the process of securing resources, BP Highway has been given priority for repairs before permanent reconstruction begins,” said Engineer Yogesh.

He emphasized that the repairs are aimed at preventing transport disruptions during the next monsoon. “If needed, we can continue repair work at night to accelerate progress,” he added.

Last week, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, along with Ministry Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma, Director General of the Department of Roads Ramhari Pokharel, and Bhaktapur Division officials, conducted an on-site inspection of the highway.

During the inspection, Minister Dahal stated that resource allocation for the highway’s repair and reconstruction was being prepared. He reiterated this at a press conference on Friday, where he highlighted that efforts were being made to ensure BP Highway remains operational throughout the upcoming monsoon.

Minister Dahal acknowledged that the lack of resources had delayed the full reconstruction of the damaged sections. However, temporary structures are being built to keep the road functional.

Since the highway’s original alignment and structure require changes, the reconstruction process has faced policy challenges and funding shortages, he added.

Meanwhile, a study conducted by the Division Road Office last December estimated that full reconstruction of the damaged road would cost over Rs 9.5 billion.

According to the preliminary assessment, rebuilding various sections from Bhakunde to Nepalthok would require Rs 9.66 billion.

The study suggests the construction of three types of retaining walls—RCC retaining walls, plum walls, and gabion walls—at different locations. “In some areas, building a bridge first may be necessary. Further discussions will determine whether to construct bridges or walls first,” Engineer Yogesh explained.

The study also indicates that RCC walls are needed in areas prone to river flows, while plum and gabion walls are required in other sections.

The reconstructed highway will be a two-lane road with asphalt concrete, replacing the previous intermediate-lane design.

BP Highway (160 km from Dhulikhel to Sindhuli and Bardibas) was initially constructed with a grant from the Japanese government starting in the fiscal year 1996/97. The project was completed in different phases and officially handed over to the Nepalese government on July 3, 2015.

At that time, the construction cost 26 billion Japanese yen, with Nepal contributing an additional 1.1 billion yen.

As a crucial route connecting Kathmandu to the mid-hill and eastern regions of Nepal, BP Highway has been partially opened, operating either one-way or two-way in different sections after sustaining flood and landslide damage.