DoR plans to build the 66-kilometer road to connect it with a double-lane Syaphrubesi-Keyrung road to be built by China.
Officials of DoR say they will select the consultant within few days. They also said Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project will be ready within two months.“As per the cabinet decision, we are evaluating Request for Proposal (RFP) of six consultants after evaluating over a dozen expressions of interests (EoI) to prepare DPR,” Gopal Sigdel, joint secretary of DoR, told Republica. “We have shortened the EoI and RFP process as per the special decision taken by Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT).”
The cabinet meeting held on December 3 had decided to build a blacktopped double-lane road to Rasuwagadhi within two years in wake of serious supply crisis resulting from the Indian blockade.
DoR will expand the single-lane Galchhi-Betrabati section (36 km) of the road to a double-lane road, while it will build and blacktop a new double-lane road from Betrabati to Syaphrubesi (30 km).
Nepal Army has already mobilized its team to widen the track of Betrabati-Syaphrubesi section and remove debris from the Betrawati-Mailung section.
The army will also open a 10-kilometer track from Mailung to Syaphrubeshi.
The cabinet had also decided to include Syaphrubeshi-Rasuwagadhi section of 16 kilometers in the package. But it has been separate from the package after Chinese authorities shown interest to widen the road section to a double-lane road and blacktop it. The road section was graveled by the Chinese government last year.
DoR officials say the Galchhi-Syaphrubeshi Road Project will cost an estimated Rs 3 billion. The department plans to build the road by awarding separate contracts for different packages.
Though the road project was included in the 20-Year Road Plan devised in 2001, it had been neglected so far. The road's importance has been realized after India blocked supplies through its border points.
The government is initiating the road project to expand its trade with the northern neighbor. Nepal's trade with India is 64 percent of total trade, while its trade with the northern neighbor stands at only 15 percent of its total trade.
The trade route is also of strategic importance for Nepal as China has identified Kerung as an important trade point in the Silk Road and is developing infrastructures there accordingly. It is connecting Kerung with railway in 2020.
Related story
DoR to use new technology in bridge construction
