The work of upgrading the 45-kilometer section of the East-West Highway from Kakadbhitta to Padajungi under the Asian Highway project is progressing at a sluggish pace although one year has already passed since the project began. This section is part of a 120-kilometer expansion from Kakadbhitta to Laukahi in Sunsari in the first phase, which began in March 2024 with the aim of completion within the next two years. The project, supported by a Rs 28.17 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank, is being implemented by the Department of Roads’ Project Directorate. The Asian Highway, which connects 32 countries, is a United Nations initiative launched in 1959 to improve international road transport, with funding from nations like China, South Korea, and Singapore, alongside international financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

With the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, the Department of Roads’ Project Directorate is upgrading the 45-km road segment as an Asian Highway under a contract agreement. The Project Chief of the Kakadbhitta-Laukahi Road Project (Eastern Section) Damak Office, Sunilbabu Pant, said that progress has reached only 15 percent so far, whereas at least 20 percent should have been achieved based on the construction timeline.

The construction agreement was signed on October 19, 2023, and the project is scheduled for completion by February 2, 2027. Pant stated that the contractor has been instructed to accelerate work to meet the target. Although the project started in March last year, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone for the project in Padajungi, Kamal Rural Municipality, on June 4, 2024 marking the official inauguration of the project.

If significant improvements are not made this year, completing the project within the remaining timeframe will be difficult. "The weather is favorable for work now," Pant said, emphasizing the need for a faster pace. "The construction company has not worked as expected, and we are putting pressure on it."

Currently, work is underway on culverts, bridges, and soil filling. So far, 93 out of 143 culverts have been completed, and 17 out of 18 small bridges are under construction. The company is using advanced equipment, but bridge construction progress remains at only 13 percent. The contract for road, culvert, and small bridge construction has been awarded at a cost of Rs 34.9 billion.

A separate contract has been awarded for the construction of bridges over the Kankai, Biring, and Ninda rivers. The Kakarbhitta-Laukahi Road Project (Eastern Section) Damak Office had instructed contractors to accelerate work before the monsoon, as delays would hinder further progress. The project aims to blacktop at least 10 kilometers of the highway within the current fiscal year.

Additionally, an 'Elephant Underpass' is being constructed in the Charali forest area following the government's wildlife-friendly infrastructure standards. According to Pant, the underpass will have a height of 6.5 meters and a length of 15 meters, making it 1.5 meters taller than the road under construction.

The Asian Highway project was initially launched with significant progress during the 1960s and 1970s. However, financial assistance was suspended in 1975, slowing its development. Till date, 32 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh, have signed agreements to facilitate the highway’s expansion across Asia and into Europe. Most funding comes from advanced Asian economies and international agencies, including the ADB and AIIB. (With inputs from RSS)