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

Nepal-India cross-border railway DPR finalised

As Nepal is preparing for a consultation meeting on the construction of Kathmandu-Kerung Railway including preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the project, India has handed over the DPR of proposed cross-border railway between India’s Rupaidiya and Kohalpur in Banke of Nepal.
According to the DPR, the proposed railway track will run parallel and between the East-West Highway and the Postal Highway.
After receiving the DPR from Indian government, the government is preparing to start the process of land acquisition for the proposed cross-border railway. The 18.5-km railway track will start from Rupaidiya Railway Station and pass through Jayaspur, Indrapur, Guruwa Gaun, Hawaldalpur, Rajhena and end in Kohalpur of Banke in Nepal. “While India – upon the completion of the survey work by its technicians – has submitted a report to Banke District Administration, it has submitted the project DPR to the Railway Department,” according to Railway Department.
But constructing the railway line track above the East-West Highway will have to clear a huge swathe of national parks, the department said, adding that the sanctuaries will be, however, safe.
According to the DPR, the railway line will be constructed two to three-km away from the East-West Highway. “Some human settlements may fall on the way but the government will compensate them,” the department said, adding that the government aims at constructing 4,000-km railway network in two decades. “The incumbent government will construct some 750-km long railway network in five years.”

India gives $2.49 million for Hulak Rajmarga project

The Government of India has provided $2.49 million to Nepal for Hulaki Rajmarga – which is popularly known as postal highway – project.
The under-construction highway that runs across the Tarai region close to the Nepal-India border is in news in recent months due to delay in construction.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over a cheque for Rs 249.71 million – that is equivalent to $2.49 million – to the minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak at the latter's office today, according to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
The highway, which was used to carry mails since the Rana regime, runs from Bhadrapur in the east to Dodhara in the west.