Kodari Highway still in poor condition after spending Rs. 10 billion for its improvement

By Chitra Mijar,Sindhupalchowk, Dec. 7: The condition of the Kodari Highway has not improved even after spending Rs. 10 billion to upgrade this. 

Nepali Congress district vice-chairman Darje Lama said that the status of the highway which was extensively damaged by the 2015 earthquake was not improved even after spending Rs. 10 billion. 

During his visit to China, Nepal's first president Dr. Ram Baran Yadav in March 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping had announced a grant of Rs.14 billion for the elevation and improvement of the Kodari Highway. Later, both countries reached a president-level agreement for the same. 

Following the agreement, the People's Liberation Army of China came to the district headquarters Chautrara on April 15, 2015. They assisted in road maintenance for several months. China Railway Construction Corporation (CCRC), a construction company entrusted with maintaining the highway, has been working on the elevation of the Kodari Highway since 2016. 

Meanwhile, the highway was damaged again by a severe flood in the Bhote Koshi River on August 1, 2016. The CRCC re-elevated the road after the flood, but locals have claimed that there has been no improvement in the road condition. The expenditure made in upgrading the road has been a waste, they said. 

In addition to CRCC, the Road Division Office in Charikot is also involved in the elevation work of the Kodari Highway. 

Meanwhile, during his China visit in September this year, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ urged the Chinese government to help upgrade the Kodari Highway for the fourth time, to which China agreed. 

Nepali Congress vice-chairman Lama claimed that though Rs. 10 billion out of Rs. 14 billion grant had been spent in maintaining the road, the geographical conditions had not been improved. 

The progress of the work in the three phases of the elevation of the Kodari Highway is being monitored in collaboration with CRCC, the Foreign Aid Coordination Division and the Road Department. 

However, Lama said that the condition of the Kodari Highway had not improved.