KATHMANDU: The upgrade work of the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road section has gained momentum with Chinese support. The project, being carried out under a grant from the Chinese government, started in January and construction activities are currently ongoing.
Engineers from the Galchhi-Trishuli-Mailung-Rasuwagadhi Road Project said machinery-based retaining walls, rock cutting, and road safety structures are being constructed at various locations.
However, some sections inside Langtang National Park have faced delays due to the lack of approval for tree clearance. The delay has affected rock cutting and other expansion works in those areas.
Project engineer Kumar Parajuli said the physical progress of the road upgrade has reached around 7 percent. The project aims to make the road connecting Nepal and China’s Rasuwagadhi border point safer, modern, and more sustainable.
The construction company has already built accommodation facilities for workers and technicians near the highway above Ronga Dobhan. The facility has helped mobilize manpower at the site, allowing construction activities to continue regularly.
The government has provided permission to collect required construction materials such as sand and aggregates from local sources. However, approval for cutting trees required during road expansion remains a challenge in some sections.
The road suffered major damage last year due to floods in Lhende Khola and erosion from the Bhotekoshi River. Areas including Tatopani Danda, Ghatte Khola, the southern cliff area of Ghatte Khola, and slopes below Timure village were affected.
The 16-kilometer Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi section is scheduled to be completed within 39 months. After completion, the upgraded road is expected to improve trade, tourism, transit, and public movement between Nepal and China.
Meanwhile, the project office has issued notices to remove structures built by local residents within the road right-of-way area in Timure. The land had been acquired for road construction in 2008.
