KATHMANDU: The BP Highway will remain open 24 hours a day starting September 17.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Security Committee held at the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchok, on Monday. Officials said the move is aimed at easing travel during the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festivals, as the monsoon season is coming to an end.
Nighttime traffic on the highway had been restricted since July 5 due to the risk of floods and landslides. Initially, the road was closed from 6:30 pm to 5:00 am. Later, the closure hours were extended from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am, with the ban continuing for several weeks.
Assistant Chief District Officer of Kavre, Sudarshan Shrestha, confirmed that the highway will now be fully open from September 17.
Last year, floods and landslides had swept away an 8-km stretch of the highway, from Chowkidanda in Kavrepalanchok to Shera Khola in Sindhuli. Out of the total 160 km route, the worst damage was recorded in the third section, from Khurkot to Nepalthok and in the fourth section, from Nepalthok to Dhulikhel, covering about 50 km.
The government is preparing contracts in four sections for the permanent reconstruction of the damaged road. The BP Highway is one of the busiest routes, carrying thousands of vehicles daily and serving as a shorter link to eastern Nepal.
