Asian Highway Eastern Section 52% Complete

Jhapa. With the goal of connecting the main trade route of eastern Nepal with the international road network, 52 percent of the road has been paved in the eastern section of the Kakarbhitta-Laukahi road under the Asian Highway being constructed. The project aims to complete 90 percent of the work within the stipulated time, with about four months remaining in the construction contract period. According to Project Chief Sunilbabu Pant, seven to 800 meters of road are being paved daily. "There are still four months left. By then, the goal is to complete 90 percent of the work," he said. The progress on the bridge side is somewhat less compared to road construction. According to Project Chief Pant, the overall progress of bridge construction is currently 31 percent. Twenty-one bridges are under construction in the eastern section, and bridges over the long Ninda, Biring, and Kankai rivers are under construction. Most of the small culvert work has been completed under the project, while the remaining road upgrading, bridge, and overpass construction are being carried out simultaneously. There are plans to construct motorable overpasses at Charali Chowk, Birtamod, and Charpane in the eastern section. Underpasses for elephants and six crossings for pedestrians will be constructed in the forest area of Charali. Road construction and upgrading are ongoing with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank. A contract agreement has been signed for the upgrading of 45 kilometers of the Kakarbhitta-Sitapuri section under the eastern section at a cost of Rs 10 billion 6 crore 94 lakh.