Constructing road links in Nepal presents major challenges
The Nepalese Government is planning a major programme of road development for the next three years. The aim of the programme is to build new roads that will join up to 500 Village Development Committee (VDC) locations that are not linked at present to the road network. According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Local Development, the Department of Local Infrastructure Development (DoLIDAR) has set a target to connect every VDC in Nepal with motorable roads. This is no small challenge however as Nepal is home to the Himalayas, the world’s highest mountain range.
Director general of DoLIDAR, Ram Krishna Sapkota, explained that the road extension programme is being geared up by the ministry, so the preparation of the action plan is now underway. In the last year’s survey there were no road connection to 584 VDCs in Nepal. Of these 584 however, 100 VDCs have been connected with by motorable roads in the 2015/2016 fiscal year. For the remaining 480 VDCs, an action plan is being prepared that will deliver the necessary connectivity within three years. Around US$ 1.5 billion is required to deliver this road link-up programme according to DoLIDAR.
Preparatory works have been carried out by DoLIDAR to provide the action plan. According to DoLIDAR statistics some 7,268km of roads were required initially to connect all 584 VDCs. But with 100 of the VDCs having been connected, only 6,038km will be required to link the remaining 480 VDCs. Among the areas still to be connected, Taplejung district lacks motorable roads in 23 VDCs, Panchthar district lacks road in 20 VDCs, Illam district lacks in 5 VDCs, Morang district has one VDC without roads as does Dhankuta district. Meanwhile Sankhuwasabha district has 10 VDCs without road connections, Bhojpur district has 12 VDCs, Solukhumbu district has 19 VDCs and Okhaldhunga district has 11 VDCs. In addition, Khotang district lacks road in 28 VDCs, Udyapur district 14 VDCs, Sindhuli district 24 VDCs and in Ramechhap district 2 VDCs were not linked up with the motorable roads.
The motorable road connectivity has not reached one VDC in Lalitpur, two in Dolakha district, two also in Sindhupalchowk district, seven in Kavre district, six in Nuwakot district and six in Rasuwa district. Meanwhile there are five VDCs in Dhading district without road connections, 10 in Makwanpur district, one in Chitwan district, 11 in Gorkha district and seven in Lamjung district, while there are three VDCs in Tanuhun district not linked by road. Humla is the only district in Nepal where motorable road have not so far not reached, while Baitadi district is also remote as it lacks road connections to 42 VDCs.
Director general of DoLIDAR, Ram Krishna Sapkota, explained that the road extension programme is being geared up by the ministry, so the preparation of the action plan is now underway. In the last year’s survey there were no road connection to 584 VDCs in Nepal. Of these 584 however, 100 VDCs have been connected with by motorable roads in the 2015/2016 fiscal year. For the remaining 480 VDCs, an action plan is being prepared that will deliver the necessary connectivity within three years. Around US$ 1.5 billion is required to deliver this road link-up programme according to DoLIDAR.
Preparatory works have been carried out by DoLIDAR to provide the action plan. According to DoLIDAR statistics some 7,268km of roads were required initially to connect all 584 VDCs. But with 100 of the VDCs having been connected, only 6,038km will be required to link the remaining 480 VDCs. Among the areas still to be connected, Taplejung district lacks motorable roads in 23 VDCs, Panchthar district lacks road in 20 VDCs, Illam district lacks in 5 VDCs, Morang district has one VDC without roads as does Dhankuta district. Meanwhile Sankhuwasabha district has 10 VDCs without road connections, Bhojpur district has 12 VDCs, Solukhumbu district has 19 VDCs and Okhaldhunga district has 11 VDCs. In addition, Khotang district lacks road in 28 VDCs, Udyapur district 14 VDCs, Sindhuli district 24 VDCs and in Ramechhap district 2 VDCs were not linked up with the motorable roads.
The motorable road connectivity has not reached one VDC in Lalitpur, two in Dolakha district, two also in Sindhupalchowk district, seven in Kavre district, six in Nuwakot district and six in Rasuwa district. Meanwhile there are five VDCs in Dhading district without road connections, 10 in Makwanpur district, one in Chitwan district, 11 in Gorkha district and seven in Lamjung district, while there are three VDCs in Tanuhun district not linked by road. Humla is the only district in Nepal where motorable road have not so far not reached, while Baitadi district is also remote as it lacks road connections to 42 VDCs.
