BP Highway reopens after 36 hours of disruption

By Kedar Timalsina,Banepa, Mar. 30: The BP Highway, which had been blocked since Friday evening due to flooding in the Roshi River following rainfall, has now reopened. The highway, which was completely shut due to Friday evening’s rain, resumed operation from Sunday morning.

Floodwaters in the Roshi River washed away diversion roads along the stretch from Chaukidanda to Nepalthok, bringing traffic to a complete halt. 

According to the District Police Office, Kavrepalanchowk, vehicular movement resumed from 6:00 a.m. on Sunday after being fully obstructed since Friday evening.

Senior Divisional Engineer (CDE) Suman Yogesh, Chief of the Road Division Office Bhaktapur, informed that traffic resumed as normal from Sunday morning after reconstruction of the diversion. 

He explained that around 200 stranded vehicles were cleared on Saturday after rebuilding the diversion road, and regular traffic flow resumed from early Sunday morning.

“With the reconstruction of the diversion road, traffic movement has now become smooth,” said CDE Yogesh.

He further informed that Friday’s flood washed away about five kilometres of diversion road at several locations, including Chaukidanda, Katunje, Ghumaune, Charsaybesi, Gimdi, Chiuribas, Boksikuna, Kaladhunga, Dalabesi and Piple (Sukkhapahiro).

Flooding during the last week of September had already caused damage to 28 kilometres of the highway, from Eak Number Pul to Nepalthok. 

In Kavrepalanchowk district alone, around 25 kilometres of road was affected. Following the damage, temporary diversions were constructed along the riverbed, forcing vehicles to travel through the river itself. This has made the road highly vulnerable, with even light rainfall disrupting traffic.

Reconstruction work is currently underway in multiple sections of the highway, four in Kavrepalanchowk and one in Sindhuli. 

Contracts have been awarded for different stretches: Dalabesi to Charsaybesi (8.5 km) at Rs. 1.22 billion and Charsaybesi to Bhakundebesi (11 km) at Rs. 1.14 billion 

Similarly, reconstruction of the 2.3 km stretch from Dalabesi to Sukkhapahiro has been contracted at Rs. 685.8 million. 

Another section from Piple (Sukkhapahiro) to Dalabesi (approximately 3.22 km) is to be undertaken by JICA, although work on this section has yet to begin.

Despite ongoing work in three sections, overall physical progress stands at only about 26 per cent, according to the Road Division Office, Bhaktapur. 

The office aims to ensure that vehicles can operate along the original alignment of the river during the upcoming rainy season.