Never complete

The under-construction highways compromise people’s right to safe and affordable travel

Nepal’s highways and major roads have for long been “under construction”. The road widening project along Prithvi Highway’s Muglin-Malekhu section, the main gateway to the federal capital, has been progressing at the snail’s pace, with only 26 percent of work completed in 28 months. The Muglin-Pokhara section of the highway, which connects the ‘ tourism capital ’ Pokhara, also remains unfinished. Similarly, the construction of Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway, which began in August 2017, missed its initial four-year target, with the deadline extended to mid-April 2027. The East-West highway’s Narayanghat-Butwal section, which connects Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces to Kathmandu and beyond, is also under construction. Moreover, other highways like Araniko, Kanti, Mechi and BP highways, which suffered significant damage last monsoon, are also in a sorry state. Such a persistent stagnation is largely due to contractors’ apathy and lack of government’s effective oversight.