Nepal Initiates Four-Lane Expansion of Pathlaiya-Hetauda-Narayanghat Highway
Summary
The government of Nepal has initiated the expansion of the Pathlaiya-Hetauda-Narayanghat highway into four lanes with financial support from the Asian Development Bank, including construction of Nepal's first 'wildlife-friendly' flyover to ensure safe animal passage.
Key Points
- The Pathlaiya-Hetauda-Narayanghat road section along the East-West Highway is being expanded into four lanes with a $305 million financial package from the Asian Development Bank.
- The project emphasizes quality, technical capacity, and environmental safety over lowest bid in the contractor selection process using a 'Quality and Cost Based Selection' method.
- Unique environmental features include a 4,002-meter wildlife-friendly viaduct, wildlife crossings, and canopy bridges to ensure safe passage for animals, particularly in sensitive ecological zones.
- The project involves cutting 23,000 trees and removing 403 private structures, with compensation and environmental mitigation measures planned, aiming to reduce travel time and boost regional trade.
