The government sets aside Rs 18.88 billion to repair roads and bridges damaged by disasters

For the purpose of rebuilding roads and bridges devastated by natural calamities, the government has set up Rs 18.88 billion.

26 infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges devastated by the floods and landslides that happened in mid-September of last year, will be rebuilt with the help of the budget. After receiving a proposal from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel authorized the reconstruction’s funding on February 16.

The Department of Roads (DoR) claims that funds have been set aside to repair bridges and roadways that have been harmed by landslides and floods.

Highways will receive Rs 16.98 billion, while bridges will receive Rs 1.90 billion.

According to the DoR, highways have been allotted Rs 16.98 billion of the overall budget. This includes Rs 1.15 billion for alternative routes and Rs 15.83 billion for main roads. Similarly, a budget of Rs 18.88 billion, of which Rs 1.90 billion is for bridges, has been set aside for the rehabilitation of damaged roads and bridges.

According to the DoR, a budget of Rs 3.66 billion has been set out for road and bridge rebuilding in the current fiscal year 2024–2025. During the current fiscal year, the main road will receive Rs 3.16 billion, bridges will receive Rs 262.21 million, and alternate roads will receive Rs 230 million.

Similarly, an emergency budget of Rs 602.4 million will be set aside for the interim rebuilding of the disaster-damaged roads and bridges. Of this, the main road will receive Rs 398.7 million, bridges will receive Rs 88.7 million, and alternate routes will receive Rs 115 million.

For BP Highway, the government is allocating a budget of Rs 8.5 billion. The first assessment estimated that the cost would be Rs 9.66 billion. Nevertheless, resources have been obtained and the budget has been cut by Rs 1 billion.

The BP Highway Bhaktapur segment has been allotted Rs 7.50 billion, while the Khurkot part has been given Rs 1 billion. The building of both parts will be funded with Rs 1.70 billion of this total this year. In a similar vein, Rs 212.5 million would be set aside for the interim restoration of both BP Highway portions.

The renovation of the Mechi Highway has been given a budget of Rs 600 million. For the current year, Rs 120 million will be set aside from this total. Likewise, 150 million rupees has been set aside for short-term rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation of the Khurkot-Milti road would also receive Rs 40 billion. Of this, Rs 80 million would be set aside for this road’s restoration during the current fiscal year. Furthermore, Rs 10 million would be set up for this road’s temporary development.

The Biblyate-Maipokhari-Sandakpur road rehabilitation has been approved with a budget of Rs 500 million. The current year will see the allocation of Rs 100 million towards the road’s rehabilitation. Additionally, Rs 12.5 million would be set aside for short-term building.

Rs 1.90 billion has been set aside for disaster-damaged bridges.

For the restoration of bridges damaged by landslides and floods, the government has set aside Rs 1.90 billion. The Phoksingtar Bridge in Sunkoshi, which connects Udayapur and Khotang, has been given the most budget.

For the reconstruction of this bridge, a budget of Rs 350 million has been set aside, of which Rs 35 million is for the current fiscal year. At a cost of Rs 20 million, the government built a Bailey Bridge after floods destroyed this one.

In a similar vein, Rs 250 million and Rs 22.5 million would be allocated for the Larcha Bridge’s renovation during the current fiscal year.

Additionally, budgetary resources have been obtained for a number of bridges, including the Liping Bridge (Rs 100 million), the Hewa Khola concrete bridge (Rs 250 million), the Hewa Khola Bailey Bridge (Rs 50 million), the Sunkoshi-Khairenitar bridge (Rs 250 million), the RCC bridge over the Bagmati River (Rs 180 million), the Bagmati Baguwa bailey bridge (Rs 60 million), the Puwa Khola Bridge (Mechi), and the Puwa Khola bailey bridge (Rs 37 million).

Furthermore, a budget of Rs 150 million has been set aside for the reconstruction of the Khurkot Bridge and Rs 27 million for the Bailey Bridge on the Jogbani River.

Rs 1.15 billion has been set up for alternate routes.

A budget of Rs 1.15 billion has also been set aside by the government for alternate routes. The Bhakunde-Temal-Sinduretar road rehabilitation has been given Rs 450 million of this total. The Kirnetar-Jafe road has been given a budget of Rs 450 million, while the Thankot-Chitlang road has been given a budget of Rs 250 million.