The reconstruction of the BP Highway (Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas) remains stalled, five months after floods and landslides in the Roshi Khola and Sunkoshi rivers severely damaged the Khurkot-Dhulikhel section in September. The delay is attributed to a lack of budget assurance. A technical study estimates the reconstruction cost at approximately Rs 10bn. Of the 12-kilometer stretch from Chowkidanda in Namobuddha, Kavrepalanchok, to Kaldhunga in Roshi Rural Municipality, eight kilometers were completely destroyed. Additionally, the road from Nepalthok to Aapghari in Sindhuli sustained significant damage.
Temporary tracks and diversions have been constructed, but traffic remains difficult. Locals fear that without immediate reconstruction and a permanent track, the highway will become impassable during the upcoming monsoon.
Sindhuli MP Rajan Dahal has urged the government to start rebuilding the Khurkot-Nepalthok and Nepalthok-Bhakundebensi sections. “Even after five months, no reconstruction has begun. If the permanent track is not built soon, the highway will be completely blocked in the monsoon,” he warned.
The BP Highway is a vital route, carrying over 10,000 vehicles daily and serving as the shortest link between eastern Nepal, the central Terai, and Kathmandu. MP Dahal stressed the need for urgent reconstruction or at least a permanent diversion to ensure its operability during the monsoon. Similarly, Shyam Kumar Ghimire, chief whip of the ruling Nepali Congress and Sindhuli MP, has also called for immediate action. He recently raised the issue with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak at a program in Sindhuli Mardhi, urging the government to allocate funds.
Last Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance reportedly approved Rs 8.5bn for the highway’s reconstruction. However, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has yet to move forward with the process. The government has sought Japan’s assistance, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has conducted a feasibility study. While JICA has shown a positive stance, no final decision has been made. A source from the Department of Roads stated that the contract for permanent reconstruction will be awarded only after Japan’s confirmation.
Currently, traffic is being routed via a temporary track along the Roshi River. The journey, which previously took four hours on the 160-kilometer highway, now takes over eight hours due to poor road conditions. Transport entrepreneur Dipendra Karki reported enduring long traffic jams and excessive dust on the temporary route. Sindhuli Police Chief Govinda Raj Kafle stated that, due to the risk of dry landslides, traffic is prohibited from 6 pm to early morning. “We have restricted night-time travel to minimize risks,” he said.
The BP Highway, which suffered collapses at multiple points during the 2015 earthquake, was further damaged by this year’s floods and landslides. Uncertainty looms over its reconstruction timeline. Originally built with Japanese support, the highway was completed on 3 July 2015, and handed over to the Nepal government. While JICA estimated the original construction cost at Rs 350m per kilometer, the current reconstruction is projected to cost Rs 1bn per kilometer.
