KATHMANDU: A team under the leadership of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, and comprised of Ministry’s Secretary Keshav Sharma and Director General of the Department of Roads Bijaya Jaisi, among other officials, carried out a monitoring inspection of various sections of the BP Highway damaged due to the recent floods and landslides.

The Minister-led team has set out for inspection as preparations are underway to operate the highway by constructing a temporary ‘diversion’ on the approximately four-kilometre section of the highway damaged by the flood.

On the occasion, Minister Ghising urged the engineers of the Department and construction entrepreneurs deployed in the field to work to ensure that this road, which serves as a ‘lifeline’ connecting the districts of Bagmati, Madhesh, and Koshi provinces with the federal capital Kathmandu, becomes operational as soon as possible.

Last year’s flood had damaged the Bhakunde–Nepalthok section of the highway. Although a temporary diversion was constructed and transport operated in that section, the recent flood has washed away about four kilometres of the road again.

Minister Ghising’s private secretariat has stated that contracts have already been awarded to permanently reconstruct roads on some sections damaged by last year’s flood, while the contract process for some more sections is in the final stage.