Kathmandu, 21 Sep: The Department of Roads and security agencies have jointly intensified efforts to restore road connectivity devastated by the Bhotekoshi floods before the upcoming Dashain festival. Considering the movement of citizens during Dashain and the trade conducted through the northern border points, the government has given high priority to restoring transportation services in the affected areas.
Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal has pledged to accelerate work so that transportation services can resume before Dashain, even if only on a temporary basis, and assured that there would be no shortage of funds for the restoration efforts. Following the natural disaster, which displaced thousands of people and caused billions of rupees in damage, teams from the Department of Roads and security agencies have been working around the clock to prevent transportation from remaining completely disrupted during the festival season.
Department of Roads spokesperson Shubharaj Neupane said work was being carried out at a rapid pace in line with the government’s announcement to reopen the road networks disrupted by the Bhotekoshi floods before the start of Dashain and other major festivals. He said transportation would be resumed before Dashain through the main roads or alternative routes, even if only on a temporary basis.
“Our target is to resume transportation in the flood-affected areas before Dashain. Most of the roads disrupted by the floods have already been reopened. The remaining major section is the Syafrubesi–Rasuwagadhi stretch,” Neupane said. “Excavators, bulldozers, loaders and other heavy equipment have already been sent to reopen this section. Only a small portion remains to be cleared at Betravati, and the required Bailey bridge has also been sent there. Necessary work is being carried out rapidly in all areas where roads remain blocked.”
He said efforts were also underway to install a bridge over the Trishuli River and establish direct road connectivity with Dhading district headquarters before Dashain.
According to Neupane, the Galchhi–Trishuli–Rasuwagadhi road has been reopened up to the Galchhi–Bhaise section. However, around 500 metres of road remains to be cleared at Bhaise–Betravati.
“Work is underway there and the road will be opened soon. At present, bulldozers and excavators are being used to clear the road along the Dhunge–Betravati section,” he said.
Neupane said the road had already been reopened up to Gerkhutar in Nuwakot and preparations were underway to install a 75-metre Bailey bridge over the Phalaku River. He said approximately 1.5 kilometres of road had been washed away at Satbise, while around 500 metres between Uttar Gaya Secondary School and Betravati had also been swept away.
“At Betravati, foundation work for the Bailey bridge is underway. Design work for another Bailey bridge at Syafrubesi has also begun,” Neupane said. “Once the Bailey bridge is constructed and the road to Syafrubesi is reopened, work toward Rasuwagadhi will begin. The 15-kilometre road from Syafrubesi to Rasuwagadhi will be reopened.”
He said three Bailey bridges would need to be installed at Lower Syafrubesi, Chilime and Upper Syafrubesi to restore transportation services along the route. Once the bridges are installed at these locations, restoring road connectivity all the way to the Rasuwagadhi border point will become easier, he added.
According to Neupane, Bailey bridges provided by China and India, as well as bridges available with the Nepal Army and the Department of Roads, will be used to restore road connectivity in the flood-affected areas. Two Bailey bridges provided by China and one provided by India will be among those deployed.
Task Forces Formed
Infrastructure Development Ministry Joint Secretary Sushil Babu Dhakal said eight thematic task forces had been formed to accelerate the construction of roads and bridges in areas damaged by the floods.
According to Dhakal, dozens of bulldozers and excavators have been mobilized along the Dhunge–Betravati section, the 1.5-kilometre stretch washed away at Satbise, and the approximately 500-metre section between Uttar Gaya Secondary School and Betravati.
The teams are clearing swampy soil to open new temporary tracks and carrying out blasting work in areas with hard rock formations. The road has already been reopened up to Gerkhutar in Nuwakot.
For the remaining sections of the Betravati–Rasuwagadhi corridor, the government is coordinating with the Chinese side to install Bailey bridges capable of carrying loads exceeding 40 tonnes so that transportation can resume.
According to reports prepared by the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, an estimated NPR 73.34 billion will be required solely for the recovery of roads and transport infrastructure damaged by the disaster.
Of this amount, approximately NPR 18.16 billion is estimated to be necessary for the permanent reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges.
