KATHMANDU, Oct 12: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has announced that all highways and feeder roads closed due to continuous rainfall on October 4 and 5 will be fully reopened within three days.
According to Secretary Keshav Sharma, the ministry has issued directives to all subordinate road divisions and project offices to complete all necessary words to reopen the roads within the deadline. “All highways blocked by rainfall will be opened within three days,” he said. Currently, only the BP Highway, Mechi Highway, and Khandbari–Kimathanka Road remain obstructed, while others have already reopened, he said.
Sharma stated that 13 highways across the country were blocked by the recent heavy rains on October 4 and 5.
The damaged highways include the Koshi, Mid-Hill, Postal, Araniko, Kanti, BP, Tribhuvan, and Prithvi highways, as well as the Beni–Jomsom and Tamor corridors, and the Narayanghat–Muglin, Hetauda–Kulekhani, and Khandbari–Kimathanka (Sankhuwasabha) road sections.
Rain blocks nine highways across nation
According to Suman Yogesh, chief of the Bhaktapur Road Division, 14 diversion sections on the BP Highway were damaged by the rainfall on the night of October 4. “We had built diversions up to 7–8 meters wide, but the rain has washed away 2–3 meters of them,” he said, clarifying that permanent structures remain intact and only temporary diversions were damaged. The loss from damaged diversions is estimated at around Rs 50 million.
Last year’s rainfall on September 27–28 caused the worst damage to the BP Highway, prompting Bhaktapur Division to begin permanent reconstruction in three phases. Around 28 kilometers of the road that collapsed last year has already been contracted for two-lane reconstruction. Before those permanent works began, temporary diversions had been built at several points — the same sections that have now been damaged.
Similarly, Narayan Dutta Bhandari, chief of the Dolakha Road Division, said that the Araniko Highway has been fully reopened after the damage caused by rainfall.
Rs 12.38 billion in estimated damages
The ministry estimates that the reconstruction of roads and related infrastructure damaged by rainfall and landslides on October 4 and 5 will cost around Rs 12.38 billion. Of this, Rs 10.68 billion will be needed to rebuild major highways, alternative roads, Bailey bridges, and permanent bridges damaged during this year’s monsoon. An additional Rs 1.7 billion is required for structures that remain yet to be reconstructed from last year’s disasters.
Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kulman Ghising said all subordinate agencies have been working with high priority to reopen the obstructed roads. He added that necessary equipment and personnel have been deployed, and both he and the ministry are closely monitoring the progress.
According to Secretary Sharma, the Mechi Highway suffered the most extensive damage, requiring an estimated Rs 1.5 billion for reconstruction. Other major highways including Koshi, Mid-Hill, Postal, Araniko, Kanti highways, and Narayanghat–Muglin road section will require a combined Rs 3.77 billion for repairs.
The ministry has further estimated that Rs 4.52 billion will be required to reconstruct 17 damaged bridges, while Rs 800 million will be needed to install new Bailey bridges to restore road connectivity. Similarly, Rs 1.59 billion is projected for the reconstruction of alternative roads.
