KATHMANDU: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $305.75 million (approximately Rs 47.25 billion) in financing for Nepal to upgrade strategic highways, improve road safety and strengthen wildlife conservation.
The financing package includes a $285 million loan, a $20 million grant and $750,000 in technical assistance. The funding will be provided under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Highway Improvement and Ecological Restoration Project.
The project will upgrade 79 kilometers of two major highway sections to four lanes. These include approximately 70 kilometers of the Narayangarh-Hetauda section of the East-West Highway and the remaining 8.7 kilometers of the Muglin-Aanbukhaireni section.
The Narayangarh-Hetauda road, which currently has two lanes, is set to be expanded to four lanes. The contract procurement process for the project has already begun. Several new bridges will also be constructed along the section.
The project includes a two-kilometer elevated highway through the Tikoli jungle area in Chitwan to allow wildlife to move more safely across the road corridor. Increasing traffic volumes in the area have disrupted wildlife movement and raised the risk of animals being killed in collisions with vehicles.
The other section, between Muglin and Aanbukhaireni, will also be upgraded to four lanes. The Aanbukhaireni-Pokhara section of the Muglin-Pokhara highway has already been expanded, leaving the 8.7-kilometer Muglin-Aanbukhaireni stretch for further improvement.
The project plans to construct a parallel road on the opposite side of the Marshyangdi River to expand capacity along this section.
The Prithvi Highway is a major route connecting Kathmandu with Pokhara. Upgrading the remaining section is expected to improve traffic movement and road safety along the corridor.
Improvements to both the Narayangarh-Hetauda and Muglin-Aanbukhaireni sections are expected to increase the capacity of Nepal’s national transport network and support the movement of passengers and freight. Both routes are important for domestic travel, trade and tourism.
The project also includes measures to make road infrastructure more resilient to floods and landslides. These include improved drainage systems, stronger road embankments, slope stabilization and disaster-resilient bridges.
The grant component will support wildlife and biodiversity conservation, infrastructure to facilitate animal movement, road safety improvements and training programs to expand livelihood opportunities for women. It will also help strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable transport planning.
ADB Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois said the project would upgrade important transport corridors while restoring wildlife movement routes.
