Rekha Shrestha

Kathmandu, February 25:

Blockades and strikes by Maoists are not only creating crisis of essential items in the Valley, they are adversely affecting ongoing construction of the Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas highway too. The highway was envisaged as a shortest-possible alternate route linking Kathmandu to the Terai. Funded by Japan, the project was initially supposed to be over by 2007. “Blockades and bandhs have caused scarcity of construction materials, and smooth progress of work is difficult,” said a Japanese consultant-engineer for Sindhuli Road Construction Project.

The highway’s total length of about 158 Km is divided into four parts. Section I is 37-km long, linking Bardibas and Sindhuli Bazar, with nine bridges en route complete. Construction of the 50-km long Section IV is also complete. Construction of the 39-km long Section II from Sindhuli to Khurkot is being done in three phases. In the first, a 12.5-km stretch was built along with a bridge and two causeways. In the second phase, a 13.5-km stretch is underway; the third phase of constructing the remaining 13 km is expected to begin from October.

It is the 32-km long Section III — between Khurkot and Nepalthok — that may run into rough weather, fear officials who have begun an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study. The detail designing of Section III will begin only in 2006. Apart from EIA and detail design, insurance of security will be a prerequisite for Japan to continue giving the grant.

Dubbed a most “environment friendly” project, the work is engaging about 1500 people everyday. Although blockades have slowed work, mobility of project officials and workers has not been hampered. Construction continued with conventional means like hammers and chisels since explosives for blasting couldn’t be transported due to security reasons.

Bindu Rana, project manager, said the total construction cost is estimated to be Rs 11 billion while Japan has already spent about Rs 8 billion till date. The project is fully funded by Japan though the government is bearing the cost of compensating people at the local level.

The Sindhuli road, passing through Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sindhuli and Kavrepalanchowk districts, was envisioned as an alternate route to link Kathmandu with Terai in case of difficult situations.

The road will also save time and reduce cost of travelling. At present, via the East-West highway means eight hours to reach Bardibas from Kathmandu — a distance of 350 km. Through the new highway, it will take only three to four hours.