The Department of Roads has made an initial estimate that at least Rs 30 billion will be required to reconstruct and repair roads and bridges damaged by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood.
According to Department of Roads Director General Dr. Bijay Jaisi, the department has already begun the reconstruction process and is carrying out a detailed assessment of the damage.
The flood caused extensive destruction along the road corridor between Miteri Bridge in Rasuwa and Malekhu in Dhading. Of the 41 bridges in the affected section, 35 were damaged, including 32 that were completely destroyed and three that suffered partial damage. Only six bridges remained intact, allowing movement between the two banks of the Trishuli River.
The department has also initiated the process of repairing the road from Betrabati to Timure. The Galchhi–Trishuli–Mailung–Rasuwagadhi Road Project issued a tender on Monday, requiring contractors to carry out works including road excavation, landslide clearance and the construction of retaining walls.
According to the department, around 40 kilometres of road have been completely destroyed, while another 10 kilometres have suffered partial damage. The floods also swept away the Miteri Bridge at Timure, two Bailey bridges and several bridges associated with hydropower projects.
Krishnabhir Road May Remain Closed for Months
Meanwhile, a massive landslide at Krishnabhir along the Nagdhunga–Muglin road has completely blocked one of the key transport lifelines connecting Kathmandu with other parts of the country.
The road section has remained closed since Sunday, with continued rockfall and soil erosion making even an on-site assessment difficult. The Department of Roads has been using drones to assess the extent of the damage and has deployed a technical team to study the landslide.
Officials say the landslide remains active, making it difficult to determine how and when the road can be reopened.
Suresh Paudel, Senior Divisional Engineer at the Nagdhunga–Muglin Road Project, said reopening the road could take five to six months under the current conditions. He added that the road is unlikely to be operational before Dashain due to the scale of the landslide.
The department is now working to develop an alternative route along the opposite bank of the Trishuli River. The proposed bypass would cross the river at Fishling, continue toward Benighat and reconnect with the existing road network.
The Fishling–Benighat route will be approximately 20 kilometres long, with around two kilometres of track yet to be opened.
The destruction of major roads and bridges has highlighted the scale of the infrastructure challenge facing the government, with reconstruction efforts expected to require billions of rupees and take several months to complete.
