KATHMANDU: A safety audit has started on the Muglin-Pokhara section of the Prithvi Highway, which connects Kathmandu with Nepal’s tourist capital, Pokhara.
The audit comes as traffic volume and accident cases continue to increase on the highway, which is currently being upgraded to a four-lane road. Authorities have also initiated the study ahead of the monsoon season, when the risks of landslides and road accidents typically rise.
Muglin-Pokhara Road Project Chief Krishna Bahadur Kunwar said the audit has been launched to assess safety conditions along the under-construction highway.
According to him, the study will examine road curves, intersections, bridges, traffic signs, dividers, street lighting, pedestrian movement and accident-prone locations.
“The Muglin-Pokhara road upgrade is in its final stage. Traffic volume is increasing, and we have started a safety audit by prioritizing the safety of road users,” said Kunwar.
Based on the audit findings, additional safety measures will be implemented where necessary. These include traffic signs, guard rails, speed-control arrangements and public awareness boards.
The safety audit was also included in the government’s 100-point action plan approved by the Cabinet on March 14, 2026. The plan calls for a safety audit of the Muglin-Pokhara road and the implementation of its recommendations on other roads as well.
The Prithvi Highway is one of Nepal’s busiest highways, linking the federal capital Kathmandu with Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki Province. The 80-kilometer Muglin-Pokhara section is being upgraded in two separate packages.
The 41.45-kilometer eastern section from Ambukhaireni to Jamune has already been completed and handed over. The section was constructed by China Communication Construction at a cost of Rs 6.21 billion.
The 38.88-kilometer western section from Jamune to Pokhara is in the final phase of construction. Physical progress has reached 78 percent so far. The contract was awarded to Chinese company Yanhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction for Rs 7.46 billion.
The project has received a third deadline extension until June 29, 2026. However, the possibility of completing the remaining work within the extended period remains low.
