India hands over a section of Postal Highway

 India today handed over a section of Postal Highway to Nepal.

Indian ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra and minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Basant Kumar Nembang today jointly dedicated the Terai roads built with Indian grant assistance to the people of Nepal.

Indian ambassador and minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport dedicated 13 of the 14 packages, which have been completed and are already being used by the people of the areas since over a year, according to a press note. "These newly completed roads have been providing smooth travel experience to people of the Terai region," the press note reads, adding that the Postal Highway directorate has issued taking over certificates in respect of five of the completed packages and is completing the documentation in respect of the remaining.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal regarding strengthening of road infrastructure in Terai region of Nepal, the government identified ten priority roads to be built under Indian funding of Rs 8 billion. "These Terai roads are also called as Hulaki Raj Marg and connect major towns located on the East-West highway with India-Nepal border," it reads, adding that these 10 roads are located in seven border districts of Province 1, 2 and 5 of Nepal and provide smooth travel experience to people of over 284 wards, 149 villages, 18 gaunpalikas, 18 Nagar Palikas and 1 sub-metropolitan city.

India funded 10 Terai roads in Nepal are built as per the specifications prescribed by the Department of Roads (DoR), the press note adds. "Each road has a seven meter carriage way and two meters of shoulders on both sides, the press note reads. The roads also include drainage, foot paths with railings in habitation areas, road signage boards, road markings and other road furniture." Under the project over 652 culverts and over 111 km of drainage network have also been built.

The project has been implemented under ‘Government of India funding and Government of Nepal implementation’ modality. "For contractual purposes the 10 roads were divided into 14 packages and the DoR awarded 14 contracts during the period October 2016 to November 2017 for their construction. "The specifications for construction of these roads were prescribed in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) finalised by DoR. It also engaged the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), a Government of India undertaking as the Project Management Consultant for the project and the consultancy fee was paid by Government of India from the Rs 8 billion grant for the project.

India funded Terai roads project has helped strengthen road infrastructures in Terai region of Nepal and further boost people to people relationship between the border areas of the two countries. These completed Hulaki Roads also complement the other major border infrastructure developed by India in Nepal such as Integrated Check Posts (ICP) at Birgunj and Biratnagar and cross border railway lines. The India-funded cross-border railway line between Jaynagar in India and Kurtha in Nepal has also been completed and is ready for handing over to Nepal for running passenger train operations by of Nepal. "In this regard, both sides are working on completing the final preparations for passenger train operations," the press note reads.

During the handover ceremony, ambassador Kwatra and minister Nembang thanked officials of the Postal Highway Directorate under the Department of Roads and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (India) and above all the people of India for their assistance and cooperation in completion of the project.

Names, length and location of the completed and dedicated Terai Road packages: 

Sl No Name of the Road Length (KM) District

1 Manmat-Kalaiya-Matiyarwa, Pkg-1 15.00 Bara

2 Manmat-Kalaiya-Matiyarwa, Pkg-2 11.66 Bara

3 Birendrabazar-Yadukuha-Mahinthpur, Pkg-1 17.00 Dhanusha

4 Birendrabazar-Yadukuha-Mahinthpur, Pkg-2  15.31 Dhanusha

5 Janakpur-Yadukuha 16.63 Dhanusha

6 Maisthan-Gaushalabazar-Samsi 26.94 Mahottari

7 Jaleshwor-Hardi 27.26 Mahottari

8 Lamahi-Koilabas 33.47 Dang

9 Kanepokhari-Rangeli 25.40 Morang

10 Kalyanpur-Barsain-Subhranpatti 17.28 Saptari

11 Tamagadhi-Simraungadh, Pkg-1  20.00 Bara

12 Tamagadhi-Simraungadh, Pkg-2  19.745 Bara

13 Birgunj–Thori, Pkg-1 25.60 Parsa

14 Birgunj –Thori, Pkg-2 – Work Ongoing 30.00 Parsa