KATHMANDU: The government has allocated more than Rs 120 billion for the upgrade and expansion of major highways across the country in the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27 (2083/84).
Presenting the annual budget in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Friday, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced large-scale investment in strategic road infrastructure, including national highways, corridors, bridges, tunnels and road safety systems.
The government has allocated Rs 37.46 billion to upgrade the East-West Highway into a four-lane roadway within the next five years. According to the budget, work on the Narayanghat-Butwal and Kamala-Kanchanpur sections will be completed this year, while around 80 kilometers of additional construction will be completed within the next two years.
For the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhesh Fast Track project, the government has set aside Rs 17.64 billion. The project includes the construction of 40 bridges and four tunnels.
Similarly, Rs 4.65 billion has been allocated for the Postal Highway, Rs 1 billion for the Karnali Highway, Rs 2.16 billion for the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway and Rs 1.46 billion for the Madan Bhandari Highway.
The government has also allocated Rs 9.87 billion for bridge construction on major highways and strategic roads across the country.
For the Karnali Corridor, Koshi Corridor and Kaligandaki Corridor projects, the budget allocation stands at Rs 6.25 billion. Likewise, Rs 1.35 billion has been allocated for the Galchhi-Mailung-Syafrubesi road project.
To improve road conditions in urban and highway areas, the government has allocated Rs 28.52 billion for dust-free road management across the country.
The budget also includes Rs 2.46 billion for traffic management infrastructure, including traffic lights and road signs.
In the upcoming fiscal year, the government plans to blacktop 1,000 kilometers of roads and construct more than 200 road bridges as part of its national infrastructure expansion target.
