RASUWA, Sept 29: The upgradation work for Syafru-Rasuwagadhi road section that connects the road network to the northern border point of Rasuwagadhi has started. The upgradation work that is being carried out with the help of Chinese government was inaugurated on Saturday.

The Chinese team has started the upgradation in a way to complete the project within 39 months, according to Galchhi-Trishuli-Mailung-Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Road Project. The distance of Syafru-Rasuwagadhi road section is 17 kilometers, of which the Chinese team will upgrade 15.8 kilometers.

The road section is one-lane dirt road at the moment. The Chinese side is turning the road into two-lane black-topped road.

Project Head Narayan Dutta Bhandari said that the plan consists of Chinese teams working simultaneously from different parts of the road section. “The work will not be completed if it is done from one part only,” he said, “For this reason, work will be started wherever the site is clear.”
According to the project office, Tibet Tianlu Company Limited will carry out the upgradation work of the road section. The detailed project report (DPR) for Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road section has been completed. After completion, the Chinese government will hand over the road to the Nepal government.

The work that needs to be completed before the upgradation of the road section is yet to be completed. The electricity pole, drinking water pipe and houses or settlements on the way should be cleared before the upgradation of the road takes place. The Chinese team has requested clearance of electricity poles and structures within two months.

Trade between Nepal and China will be easier after the road comes into operation. Transportation is currently difficult along the section because of narrow and dilapidated road. The work from Galchhi to Rasuwagadhi is being carried out by dividing the road into three parts: first section is 
Galchhi-Mailung, second is mailing-Syafru, and the third is Syafru-Rasuwagadhi.

The distance from Galchhi to Rasuwagadhi is 82 kilometers. Of the three sections, upgradation of Galchhi-Mailung section is currently going on, and preparation for opening tender for Mailung Syafru section is going on.

According to Project Head Bhandari, the tender for Mailung-Syafru road section will be opened within a week. The upgradation of the road section is targeted to be completed by 30 months from the time of initiation. He said that the Mailung-Syafru road will be constructed according to the Asian Highway Standard. “The road is dedicated double-lane road,” he said, “The width of the road will be 11 meters.”

The physical progress of Galchhi-Mailung road has reached 50 percent, and the financial progress has reached 45 percent.
 

 
• Syafru-Rasuwagadhi