Kathmandu — It is estimated that around 12.38 billion rupees will be required to reconstruct road infrastructures damaged by floods and landslides. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has estimated that about 10.68 billion rupees will be needed to rebuild major highways, alternative roads, bailey bridges, and permanent bridges damaged by this year’s monsoon-related disasters.
The ministry has stated that 1.70 billion rupees remain allocated for the reconstruction of infrastructures damaged by last year’s disasters.
Kulman Ghising, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, said that the agencies under his ministries are working with high priority to resume road operations that were blocked due to floods and landslides.
He mentioned that equipment and manpower have been mobilized to reopen the obstructed roads as quickly as possible, and that he himself, along with the ministry, is conducting regular monitoring of the progress.
This year’s monsoon-related disasters have caused the most severe damage to the Mechi Highway. It is estimated that 1.5 billion rupees will be required for its reconstruction.
Similarly, the reconstruction of other damaged highways — including the Koshi, Mid-Hill, Hulaki, Araniko, Kanti, and Narayangadh–Mugling highways — is estimated to cost around 3.77 billion rupees.
Similarly, the reconstruction of 17 damaged permanent bridges is estimated to cost 4.52 billion rupees.
Around 800 million rupees will be required to install new bailey bridges needed for maintaining road connectivity, and approximately 1.59 billion rupees has been estimated for the reconstruction of alternative roads.