The construction of 33 bridges under the eastern section of the Narayangadh–Butwal Road Expansion Project has been completed. According to Shiva Khanal, Information Officer of the project, all 33 bridges located in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) and Nawalpur under the eastern section are now finished.
Information Officer Khanal stated that out of the 34 bridges planned for the eastern section from Gaindakot to Daunne, only one bridge remains to be completed. This section required 22 short bridges up to 25 meters in length and 12 long bridges exceeding 25 meters, with just one remaining under construction.
According to Khanal, among the long bridges—Girwaari Khola, Arun Khola, and Binayi Khola—which are more than 200 meters, only the Arun Khola bridge is yet to be completed.
The Arun Khola bridge is in its final stage of construction. Among the completed bridges, approach road works are ongoing at Kerunge Khola in Kawasoti and Giruwari Khola in Chormara. These bridges will come into operation within a few days.
“Bridge construction is almost in its final phase; only some work remains on the Arun Khola bridge, which will also be completed soon,” said Khanal. Some culvert works remain in the Daunne section, and they too are in their final phase.
So far, the physical progress of the Narayangadh–Butwal Road Expansion Project has reached 76 percent. Most of the blacktopping work in the eastern section—except for the Daunne area—has been completed, making travel easier. Travel through the Daunne area is still difficult due to pending road gradient and slope works.
The expansion work began after a contract was signed on Magh 24, 2075, with China State Construction Corporation Pvt. Ltd., with completion originally scheduled for Saun 22, 2079. The 113 km road was divided into two sections for construction.
After the work was not completed on time, the deadline was extended for the second time until Saun 8, 2081. When it still wasn’t finished, a third extension was granted until Saun 8, 2082. Now, the deadline has been extended for the fourth time, until Asar 2083.
The total project cost for both sections, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is Rs 16.99 billion.
Of the 113 km road, 70 km will be four-lane, and 29 km will have four lanes along with six-meter service lanes on both sides. A three-lane road will be built along the 14 km Daunne section.
