KATHMANDU, Feb 10: The Department of Roads has not started permanent reconstruction on five major highways damaged by the continuous rain on September 27th and 28th, 2024. This delay is expected to disrupt traffic on those roads during the upcoming monsoon season.
Bhimarjun Adhikari, spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, said that they requested the Ministry of Finance to secure Rs 20 billion for reconstructing the damaged sections of the five major highways, but the Ministry of Finance has not allocated any funds so far.
"Since the Ministry of Finance has not appropriated the required funds, we have not initiated the process for permanent reconstruction of the roads," he said. "The Ministry of Finance has claimed that it is working to secure the funds, but it has taken too long. When the ministry asked us about the full amount for reconstruction, we submitted the details; however, they have yet to provide the funds."
However, Ambika Prasad Khanal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, confirmed that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had requested Rs 20 billion but stated that the issue is still in process. "I understand that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure's request is under process," he said.
Another official from the Ministry of Finance mentioned that they are working on raising the funds—Rs 20 billion—to be given to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure.
All houses look similar in Sindhuli after reconstruction
Technical staff from the Department of Roads have conducted temporary repairs in the damaged sections to keep the roads operational. They have used gravel, hume pipes, Bailey bridges, and soil filling as makeshift solutions to allow vehicles to pass. However, no tenders have been called for permanent reconstruction in any of the sections, making technical staff predict severe traffic disruptions during the upcoming monsoon season. The rains have caused the most damage to the BP Highway. Similarly, sections of the Kanti, Araniko, Mechi, and Mid-Hill highways have also sustained damage. The bridge over the Hewa Khola on the Mechi Highway has collapsed.
The Department of Roads has not yet called for tenders to rebuild the collapsed bridge. The Road Divisions of Bhaktapur and Khalte Sindhuli manage the BP Highway. These divisions have requested Rs 9 billion to secure funds for the permanent reconstruction of the highway. However, the Ministry of Finance has not provided the necessary funds, so the work has not started, said Paras Mani Hamal, the head of the Sindhuli Road Division. He stated that if the departments do not call for tenders within mid-February; they will not be able to start the permanent reconstruction work before this monsoon season.
He said, "Even if the authorities call for tenders, the work will take at least three months to begin. Therefore, if they don't call the tenders by mid-February, they will not start the work before the upcoming monsoon season. As a result, traffic operations will face significant disruption."
To permanently reconstruct the BP Highway, the Bhaktapur Road Division has requested Rs 7.75 billion, and the Sindhuli Road Division has asked for Rs 1.25 billion from the Ministry of Finance. On Saturday, a large team, including Minister of Physical Infrastructure Devendra Dahal, Ministry Secretary Keshav Sharma, and Director General of the Department Ramhari Pokhrel, visited Sindhuli to inspect the BP Highway.
A technical staff member from the Department of Roads stated that the Minister has inspected the BP Highway for the second time, while the Secretary and Director General have done so for the fourth time. During the inspection, Minister Dahal instructed the Bhaktapur and Sindhuli Road Divisions to proceed with immediate reconstruction.
"Minister Dahal instructed us to begin the permanent reconstruction work immediately, as the Ministry of Finance is securing funds," said Suman Yogesh, the project chief of the Bhaktapur Road Division. "We are also starting the temporary repairs right away. For this, we need Rs 70 million to 60 million for the Bhaktapur division and Rs 10 million for the Sindhuli section."
Although the work is temporary, he believes that starting it immediately will prevent significant traffic disruptions during the upcoming monsoon season. He also mentioned that the Department of Roads has assured them of allocating Rs 60 million for the temporary repairs.
Narayan Dutta Bhandari, head of the Kathmandu Road Division, stated that the division has requested the Ministry of Finance to secure Rs 680 million for reconstructing the Balkhu-Dakshinkali, Thankot-Chitlang, Sitapaila-Dharke, and Sankhu-Bhotechaur sections, which the rains have damaged. However, the Ministry of Finance has not yet secured the funds for the reconstruction. As a result, he believes it is highly unlikely that the permanent reconstruction will take place before the next monsoon season.
A senior official from the Department of Roads said, "The Ministry of Finance has not secured funds for the reconstruction of roads that urgently need repair. However, it has ensured budget allocation for the roads recommended by the honorable minister. In some cases, the budget has been adjusted to please the minister, while in others, multi-year plans have been created to secure funds. It seems that prioritizing the minister's interests has taken precedence over national needs."
The continuous rainfall on September 27 and 28 caused the collapse of 21 kilometres of roads across the country. Additionally, five major bridges were damaged, and several other areas experienced minor damage. The rains caused significant damage to sections of the Araniko Highway, including the Dhulikel-Dolalghat-Barhabise stretch.
