KATHMANDU, MAY 26 The Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan on Sunday jointly launched the emergency rehabilitation project for the flood-affected Sindhuli Road, a key highway linking Kathmandu with the mid and eastern Tarai. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru, and Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Nepal Office Matsuzaki Mizuki, among other officials. The rehabilitation project is being implemented with Japanese grant assistance of 2.8 billion yen, equivalent to around Rs 2.3 billion, under an agreement signed between Nepal and JICA on October 30, 2025. According to officials, the project aims to restore and strengthen flood-damaged sections of Sindhuli Road Section IV, which suffered extensive damage due to heavy rainfall and floods in September 2024. More than 10 kilometres of the highway had reportedly been washed away, disrupting transportation, trade and local economic activities. The project includes rehabilitation of vulnerable road sections, widening works and measures to improve traffic safety and disaster resilience. Construction work will be carried out by Shimizu Corporation. Stretching around 160 kilometres, the Sindhuli Road was developed with Japanese grant assistance worth approximately 25.8 billion yen between 1995 and 2015. The highway significantly reduced travel time between Kathmandu and Bardibas from over nine hours to around five hours. Speaking at the event, Secretary Sigdel described Japan as Nepal's trusted development partner and said timely rehabilitation of the highway was a matter of national importance. He stated that the upgraded road would serve as a model for resilient infrastructure development in Nepal. JICA Nepal Chief Representative Matsuzaki said the project reflected Japan's continued commitment to supporting safe and resilient transport infrastructure in Nepal. The rehabilitation project is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2027.