The government has allocated Rs 18.88 billion for the reconstruction of roads and bridges damaged by disasters. This budget will be used to restore 26 infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges affected by the floods and landslides that occurred in mid-September last year. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel approved the funding on February 16, following a request from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
According to the Department of Roads (DoR), Rs 16.98 billion has been allocated for highways, with Rs 15.83 billion designated for main roads and Rs 1.15 billion for alternative roads. An additional Rs 1.90 billion has been set aside specifically for bridge reconstruction. In the fiscal year 2024/25, Rs 3.66 billion will be used for road and bridge reconstruction, including Rs 3.16 billion for main roads, Rs 262.21 million for bridges, and Rs 230 million for alternative roads. Moreover, an immediate budget of Rs 602.4 million has been allocated for temporary road and bridge reconstruction, with Rs 398.7 million for main roads, Rs 88.7 million for bridges, and Rs 115 million for alternative roads.
The government has allocated Rs 8.5 billion for the BP Highway, with Rs 7.50 billion designated for the Bhaktapur section and Rs 1 billion for the Khurkot section. In the current fiscal year, Rs 1.70 billion will be used for construction, while Rs 212.5 million will be allocated for temporary reconstruction. Similarly, Rs 600 million has been allocated for the Mechi Highway, with Rs 120 million for this year and Rs 150 million for temporary reconstruction. The Khurkot-Milti road will receive Rs 40 billion, with Rs 80 million allocated for this fiscal year and Rs 10 million for temporary construction. The Biblyate-Maipokhari-Sandakpur road has been allocated Rs 500 million, with Rs 100 million for reconstruction this year and Rs 12.5 million for temporary construction.
For bridge reconstruction, the government has allocated a total of Rs 1.90 billion to rebuild bridges damaged by floods and landslides. The Phoksingtar Bridge, which connects Udayapur-Khotang in Sunkoshi, has received the largest budget allocation of Rs 350 million, with Rs 35 million earmarked for this fiscal year. The Larcha Bridge will receive Rs 250 million, with Rs 22.5 million allocated for this year. Other bridge reconstruction projects include the Liping Bridge, which has been allocated Rs 100 million, the Hewa Khola concrete bridge with Rs 250 million, the Hewa Khola bailey bridge with Rs 50 million, and the Sunkoshi-Khairenitar bridge with Rs 250 million. The RCC Bridge over the Bagmati River will receive Rs 180 million, while the Bagmati Baguwa bailey bridge will get Rs 60 million. The Puwa Khola Bridge in Mechi has been allocated Rs 177 million, and the Puwa Khola bailey bridge will receive Rs 37 million. Additionally, Rs 27 million has been allocated for the Jogbani River Bailey Bridge, and Rs 150 million for the Khurkot Bridge.
The government has also allocated Rs 1.15 billion for alternative road reconstruction. The Bhakunde-Temal-Sinduretar road and the Kirnetar-Jafe road have each been allocated Rs 450 million, while the Thankot-Chitlang road will receive Rs 250 million. The funding aims to restore essential transport networks, ensuring improved connectivity and disaster resilience.
