Rs 2.19 billion approved to rebuild flood-hit roads & bridges in Ilam

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Finance has approved Rs 2.19 billion in funding for the repair and reconstruction of roads and bridges damaged by heavy rainfall on Oct 4 and 5 in Ilam district.

The funding approval was granted after the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport submitted reconstruction proposals for flood-affected roads and bridges.

The allocated budget will be used to repair and rebuild key infrastructure, including the Mechi Highway, Mechi Corridor, and several bridges over the Maikhola, Puwakhola, and Jogmaikhola rivers.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Rs 540 million has been released immediately in the current fiscal year to address urgent repair needs.

With the source approval secured, authorities can now move forward with the procurement and tendering process for reconstruction works.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, has directed the Department of Roads to immediately initiate tender procedures, stating that funding has been secured for disaster-damaged road infrastructure.

The reconstruction work will be implemented by the Road Division Office, Ilam, under the Department of Roads.

Following monsoon-induced disasters that claimed 39 lives and caused extensive damage to physical infrastructure, the government declared Ilam a disaster crisis zone for three months on Oct 7.

A high-level team led by Minister Ghising, including Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma, Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal, Department of Roads Director General Vijay Jaisi, and Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Dinesh Raj Bhatt, visited Ilam on Oct 9 to assess the damage.

The team committed to providing immediate relief to affected families, carrying out urgent repairs to damaged structures, restoring normal life, and introducing both short-term and long-term recovery plans.

Of the total approved budget, the largest allocation—Rs 1.5 billion—has been earmarked for the reconstruction of the Mechi Highway.

Additional allocations include Rs 200 million for the permanent motorable bridge at Maikhola–Rajduwali, Rs 250 million for the Maikhola–Belase motorable bridge under the Mechi Corridor, and Rs 50 million each for the construction of Bailey bridges over the Puwakhola and Jogmaikhola rivers.

A further Rs 140 million has been allocated for the Mechi Corridor, which serves as an alternative route to the Mechi Highway.

For the current fiscal year, immediate fund releases include Rs 250 million for the Mechi Highway, Rs 50 million and Rs 100 million for the Maikhola–Rajduwali and Maikhola–Belase bridges respectively, and Rs 40 million for the Mechi Corridor.

The entire required amount has already been released for the two Bailey bridges.