Funding secured for Nepal highway connection

A funding package has been secured that will help pay for a key road project in Nepal. The 943 Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a loan worth US$180 million that will be used to help pay for widening work to an 87km stretch of the East-West Highway between Kamala and Kanchanpur. At present the route has just one lane in either direction but the upgrade will see the route being widened in a bid to boost capacity and safety, with two lanes in either direction. The project is being managed by the 5283 Nepalese Government, which will provide the remaining $76.4 million required for the work, which is intended to cut congestion on the route. Construction is due to start in early 2019 and should take until 2022 to complete.