KATHMANDU: The Government of Japan has started reconstruction work on the Pipley-Barkhekola section of the BP Highway. The 3.2-km road section was severely damaged by floods in October 2024.
The reconstruction work officially began on Monday in the presence of Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru and Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Gopal Prasad Sigdel.
The project is being rebuilt with financial and technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japanese construction company Shimizu Corporation has secured the reconstruction contract for the Pipley-Barkhekola section.
Nepal and Japan had signed a bilateral agreement for the project on October 29, 2024. Japan is providing a grant assistance of 2.8 billion Japanese Yen for the reconstruction.
Floods in October 2024 and October 2025 damaged around 30.5 km of the BP Highway between Bhakundebesi and Khurkot. Out of this, reconstruction work on 27.3 km has already been divided into four contract packages. Three packages are in Kavre district and one is in Sindhuli. These sections are being rebuilt with investment from the Government of Nepal.
The 11-km Bhakundebesi-Charsebesi section has been awarded to Lama-Navakantipur JV for Rs 1.33 billion including VAT. The project must be completed by June 30, 2027.
Similarly, the 8.5-km Charsebesi-Dalabesi section was awarded to Khani-Kamaljit-Awan JV for Rs 1.42 billion. The deadline for completion is June 11, 2027.
The 2.3-km Pipley (Sukkhapahiro)-Dalabesi section contract was awarded to Uma & Company-Bhandari-Amarjyoti JV for Rs 688 million. The project is scheduled to be completed by November 12, 2027.
On the Sindhuli side, the 5-km Barkhekola-Nepalthok section contract was awarded to Kharidhunga/Ghising/Kshitiz JV for Rs 611.4 million.
The BP Highway is the shortest road link connecting Kathmandu with eastern Nepal and the Mid-Hill region. More than 5,000 vehicles use the highway daily.
Construction of the 160-km Dhulikhel-Sindhuli-Bardibas BP Highway started in FY 1996/97 with grant support from the Japanese government. The highway was officially handed over to the Government of Nepal on July 3, 2015.
