Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 5:

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works and the Japanese Embassy jointly opened the 50-kilometre Dhulikhel-Nepalthok section of the Sindhuli road today, a press statement issued by the Japanese Embassy said.

With the opening of the road section, locals will have better access to the markets of Dhulikhel and to the rest of the country through the Araniko Highway.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Dhulikhel, Japanese ambassador to Nepal, Tsutomu Hiraoka, said that once completed, the Sindhuli road will strengthen the road networks in Nepal by connecting Kathmandu with the Terai.

He expressed hope that the completion of the road would give a boost to economic activities in the area.

“Since 1996, Japan has been extending grant assistant to the government for the construction of the road.

Out of the 158-kilometre road, the stretch of 99.5-kilometre has already been opened,” the press statement further said, adding that Japan had so far extended grant assistance of Rs 7.6 billion for the road project.

To make sure that local communities reap benefits from the Sindhuli road, the government of Japan has been running a grant assistance for grassroots project (GGP Grant).