Nepal's upgraded links

The Indian Government is providing assistance for road construction work in neighbouring Nepal. This assistance is for building the Kulekhani – Kathmandu road section, which will be widened and upgraded with an asphalt surface. The road will be widened to 7.5m and the work is being carried out by Indian Contractor Golden Goods. Meanwhile asphalt surfacing work is has now been completed on Nepal’s Hetauda-Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Pharphing-Chaimale road Section. Surfacing work is in hand on the remaining 21km section of the road and completion is expected within 14 months. This road provides the most direct link from capital Kathmandu to the Terai region and carries over 1,000 vehicles/day. Nepal’s Department of Road has listed 17 bridges in Kathmandu as vulnerable and in need of repair and the tender process has already been completed. However, the proposed expansion to the existing Ring Road has been suspended due to an insufficient budget despite approval already being given by the Ministry of Finance. The road was to be expanded with the addition of pedestrian and bicycle lanes as well as to be widened by 6m on either sides of the road. The pilot programme was for the 4km route between Tilganga and Balkumari Bridge with a six-lane road, while the entire expansion project was for a 28km section of road. On a more positive note, financial aid worth US$49 million for a road improvement project has been approved by the 943 Asian Development Bank. The project is due for completion by December 2014 and is costing $75.9 million, of which $26.9 million will come from the Nepal Government. The grant and the loan each total $24.5 million, and will be used to upgrade some 195km of roads.