BP Highway restored with alternative route for monsoon season

KATHMANDU: Due to the devastating floods and landslides during the second week of last year’s Ashoj, the BP Highway has been severely damaged.

As a temporary solution, vehicles are now being diverted through an alternative route built along the riverbed, with traffic currently operating on this makeshift road.

The alternative route stretches from Chaukidanda in Namobuddha Municipality-5 of Kavrepalanchowk to the riverbed of Birkhe Khola at the Sindhuli border, where vehicles are currently navigating through the riverbed itself.

The BP Highway has long been the preferred route for travelers heading from Kathmandu to the eastern Terai, due to its shorter distance.

However, with the approach of the monsoon season, certain sections of the highway are no longer suitable for vehicular movement.

Consequently, the Bhaktapur Road Division is working on an alternative road that will elevate the route above the river’s surface, ensuring its functionality during the upcoming rainy season.

The project focuses on raising the road surface above the water level, particularly in the heavily damaged sections near Chaukidanda.

Although a permanent road construction contract has been announced, the process for awarding the contract and finalizing contractors is still underway.

Therefore, the temporary alternative route is under construction to ensure the road remains operational in the interim, according to Durga Prasad, an engineer at the Bhaktapur Road Division.

Given that the water level of the river has risen and vehicles are currently operating on the riverbed, there are concerns that the monsoon rains could further disrupt travel.

As such, efforts are underway to shift the river’s course and elevate the road above the riverbed, with retaining walls being built to support this design.

Work is proceeding at a rapid pace on the Chokidanda section, where floodwaters had washed away around eight kilometers of road from Chaukidanda in Namobuddha Municipality to the Sindhuli border.

In the short term, workers have been engaged in clearing and graveling the washed-out road, while creating temporary paths for vehicles to pass.

Chandra Bahadur Lama, a staff member at the Bhaktapur Road Division, confirmed that work has been completed in areas such as Boksikuna and Chiwari Basi near Mangaltar.

However, work remains to be done in areas like Mamti, Dala Bensi, Narke, Gimdi Bensi, 400 Bensi, and Katunje Ghumti.

The Chokidanda section is expected to be completed soon.

Currently, a dedicated team of two engineers, one sub-engineer, and 30 operators are working tirelessly to finish the project.

The Bhaktapur Road Division has set a target to complete all the works by the upcoming month of Baisakh.

Once completed, the alternative route is expected to allow for smooth vehicular movement on the BP Highway even during the upcoming monsoon season, providing much-needed relief to travelers and commuters.