Kakarbhitta-Laukahi Road Upgrade Intensifies with ADB Loan

Jhapa. The upgrade work of the Kakarbhitta-Laukahi road section under the East-West Highway has gained momentum. The eastern section of this 95-kilometer road, being constructed with a loan assistance of 46 billion rupees from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is currently undergoing intensive asphalting. The road department, through its Project Directorate (ADB), has divided the expansion work into five packages. The project is divided into eastern and western sections. The eastern section covers 45 kilometers from Kakarbhitta to Sitapuri in Jhapa, and the western section covers 50 kilometers from Sitapuri to Labipur in Sunsari. According to the latest details provided by the project, the physical progress of the first package (Kakarbhitta-Sitapuri) has reached 47 percent. Similarly, the progress of the second package (Sitapuri-Gothgaon) is 42 percent, and the third package (from Gothgaon in Morang to Labipur in Sunsari) is 19 percent. According to Sunil Pant, the project chief of the Kakarbhitta-Laukahi Road Project (Eastern Section), the first layer of asphalt has been completed on 16.5 kilometers of the road in the eastern section. He mentioned that 7 kilometers of road can be asphalted in a week if the weather permits. He stated that an additional 15 kilometers will be asphalted by Dashain. He said, 'Out of 44.3 kilometers, we have already asphalted the first layer (5 cm thick Dense Bituminous Macadam - DBM) of the four-lane road on 11 kilometers. On the remaining 5 kilometers, work on either the right or left side is completed. Currently, 5-6 kilometers of road are ready for asphalting, and this work will be completed within a week as soon as the weather is favorable.' If the weather permits, the target is to asphalt 400 to 800 meters of road daily. The project plans to asphalt an additional 15 kilometers of road by the upcoming Dashain, as the construction contractors have sufficient bitumen stock. The upgrade work of this road, which began construction on February 2, 2024, is contracted to be completed by February 1, 2027. Currently, the work is underway to expand the road on both sides with a 3-meter median (divider) in the middle. The project has stated that the construction work is continuing despite some disruptions due to the monsoon.