KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 8

A technical team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has begun inspecting the BP Highway for reconstruction.

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Several sections of the 158-km highway were damaged by a disaster caused by continuous rainfall across the country on September 27-29 this year.

The BP Highway, which links the Kathmandu Valley along the Araniko Highway to Bardibas along the East-West Highway, was originally constructed with JICA's financial assistance.

The JICA technical team recently conducted a three-day on-site inspection of the damaged highway sections, according to the Division of Road, Bhaktapur.

The Division has been awaiting JICA's decision regarding the highway's reconstruction, and with the ongoing inspection, JICA is expected to submit its report, including decisions, by the first week of December, stated Office Chief Suman Yogesh.

Meanwhile, the Government of Nepal is also preparing to rebuild this key highway, which provides an alternative route connecting Kathmandu to the Terai region.

It is worth noting that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Kikuta Yutaka, on October 16 to discuss JICA's potential support for the highway's reconstruction.

Office Chief Yogesh assured there would be no delay in the reconstruction process. 'We will commence reconstruction as soon as JICA finalizes its decision regarding the BP Highway,' he said.

He also clarified that if JICA opts not to undertake the reconstruction, the Division of Roads will initiate the process independently within two months. The estimated reconstruction cost is Rs 7 billion.