BP Highway Reopens for Traffic

The BP Highway, which had been blocked at several points due to last week’s floods, has been fully reopened to traffic after the completion of temporary road construction and diversions at 19 locations.

According to the Division Road Office, Bhaktapur, tracks were cleared across all damaged sections by late Friday, October 10, followed by a successful test run. Continuous work through the night enabled the highway to reopen completely from Saturday morning.

Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh said diversions were built at key points including Chaukidanda, Katunje–Ghumaune, Char Saya Besi, Gimdi Besi, Narke, Chiuribas, Boksikuna, Kaldhunga, Dala Besi, four sections in Piple, and two in Mamti. A total of 16 diversions were constructed in the Kavrepalanchok section and three in the Sindhuli section.

Floodwaters from the Roshi River had washed away nearly four kilometres of the highway in the Roshi area. After opening tracks along damaged stretches, engineers conducted test runs and worked overnight to widen narrow sections before resuming full traffic movement this morning.

Rain-induced disasters at the end of September last year had damaged around eight kilometres of the highway in multiple sections. Full repairs were still pending when continuous rainfall from October 3 to 5 triggered fresh floods and landslides, further affecting the same stretch.

Construction of the temporary diversions formally began Tuesday. Yogesh said around two dozen machines were mobilised round the clock from Thursday afternoon to complete the emergency roadwork. The floods and landslides had damaged the highway at 17 locations.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising inspected several damaged sections on Thursday and directed officials to expedite repair works. 

The BP Highway, a vital route connecting eastern Nepal to the federal capital through a shorter distance, handles thousands of vehicles daily. 

The government had initiated the tender process to permanently rebuild the damaged sections in four packages before the latest disaster struck.

(With inputs from RSS)