Nepal-China seal 11 billion second phase Ring Road expansion deal

The long-awaited second phase of Kathmandu Ring Road expansion is going to begin following a formal agreement signed today between the Government of Nepal and the People’s Republic of China.
Under the agreement, the Chinese government will provide a grant of approximately Rs 11 billion to upgrade the 8.2-kilometer road from Kalanki to Basundhara. The project includes widening the road to eight lanes and constructing several new bridges and pedestrian overpasses, according to a press note issued by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development.
The agreement was signed at the Ministry by Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development Sunil Lamsal and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming. This phase follows the successful completion of the first section-the Koteshwar-Kalanki stretch-which was also built with Chinese assistance, it reads.
Speaking after the ceremony, Minister Lamsal emphasized a new 'zero-delay' approach to the construction. "The government has prioritised north-south connectivity as a national goal," he said, adding, "I am personally committed to ensuring that any administrative or technical hurdles arising during implementation are resolved within 24 hours to keep the project on track."
"The agreement related to assistance under the second phase of the Ring Road expansion has been completed today," he said, adding that the assistance agreement was signed with the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming. "On behalf of the government, a commitment has been expressed to resolve any problems arising during the project’s implementation within a day and to provide necessary facilitation."
Ambassador Maoming echoed the sentiment of cooperation, stating that the project serves as a cornerstone of bilateral infrastructure ties. He added that Chinese investors are increasingly looking at Nepal's energy and transport sectors, provided the 'suitable investment environment' continues to improve.
The Department of Roads confirmed that the expansion will address previous design concerns by incorporating modern medians, streetlights, and disabled-friendly overhead bridges. With the agreement signed, a Chinese technical team is expected to arrive at the site shortly, the press note adds.

Nepal, Switzerland partner for better connectivity through motorable bridges

 Nepal and Switzerland joined hands for better connectivity through motorable bridges.

An agreement to implement Motorable Local Bridges Programme (MLRBP) phase IV is signed and exchanged between joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Shree Krishna Nepal and Swiss ambassador in Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller, on behalf of their respective governments. The programme will start from January 2021 and end in December 2024, according to a press note issued by the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu.

“Switzerland will contribute CHF 9'820'000 (approximately equivalent to Rs 1.27 billion) for the four-year programme in the form of technical assistance,” the press note reads, adding thatr the federal and provincial governments will finance the required funds for construction of around 200 new motorable bridges on provincial roads in the next four years. “The programme will be implemented by the province governments and will benefit around 1.5 million citizens through better access to economic opportunities and basic services using the provincial road network.”

Over the last nine years, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) provided technical assistance to build over 415 motorable bridges in Nepal. “These bridges on average reduced the transportation costs to schools, health posts, markets etc by 20 per cent to 25 per cent,” the press note reads.

Second phase of bridge maintenance project begins

The Department of Roads has started the second phase of nationwide bridge maintenance project from today.
The project aims at repairing vulnerable or damaged bridges along the major highways across the country and enhance their durability, according to director general of the Department of Roads Rabindra Nath Shrestha.
The project 'Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Programme-II (BIMP-II),' is a joint project of the government and the World Bank, he said, adding that the government is contributing $63 million, whereas the World Bank is contributing $119 million, respectively for the five-year long project. "The project was preceded by another five-year project of bridge maintenance worth Rs 7 billion, which maintained several bridges across the East West Highway and other highways on the first phase that ran from 2012 to 2017, with contribution of $60 million from the World Bank and the rest from the government."
The first phase had upgraded bridges in different states. The percentage of bridges in good condition was 85 at the end of the first phase, up from 50 per cent in 2012 when the project started.
A total 17-km of bridge length was maintained for bridges with structural damages. Minor repairing works covered 10-km of bridge length.
The second phase will also build 14 new bridges along the Mugling-Narayangadh road section, which was completed this year. Bridges for maintenance are yet to be identified.
The project will conduct risk assessment of the vulnerable bridges along the main highways. New bridges will replace the old ones if needed.
There are about 2,200 motorable bridges across the country and about 400 of them are along the main highways. Another 1,450 bridges are in different stages of construction
The details are yet to be prepared about particular bridges to be included in the project," according to senior divisional engineer Naresh Man Shakya. "We will prepare a three-year maintenance project based on need assessment," he said, adding that construction of new bridges begin thereafter.

Japan hands over newly reconstructed bridges

The government of Japan handed over five bridges which were newly constructed along the Barhakilo-Barpak road in Gorkha amidst a formal inauguration ceremony in Gorkha – near the epicenter of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake – today to the government of Nepal.
Ambassador of Japan Masamichi Saigo and the newly appointed chief representative of JICA Nepal Office Yumiko Asakuma were present in the event where minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth was the chief guest.
In December 2015, half a year after the devastating Gorkha earthquake, the two governments signed an agreement for Japanese grant assistance of to be provided for major infrastructure reconstruction and rehabilitation including the 3 bridges in Gorkha.  The Subproject of Bridge Construction along 'Barhakilo-Barpak Road' is one of the 3 sub-projects under the umbrella grant 'the Programme for Rehabilitation and Recovery from Nepal Earthquake.
This subproject amounting to JapaneseYen930 million was initiated to support speedy reconstruction and recovery in the earthquake affected areas by ensuring all-season reliable access to the northern part of the Gorkha district. The construction of the three PC (pre-stressed concrete) bridges by the grant subproject – Daraudi Khola Bridge, Ghatte Khola Bridge, and Rangrung Khola Bridge – was completed in July 2018.
In addition, two reinforced concrete bridges – Khahare Khola Bridge and Jhyalla Khola Bridge – were also constructed by another JICA technical cooperation project "the Project on Rehabilitation and Recovery from Nepal Earthquake."
On the occasion, ambassador Saigo expressed his hope that the 5 newly constructed bridges will enable the people to access other communities, major markets and cities conveniently and safely throughout the year, and this would contribute to enhance the accessibility to public services, and to improve the economic activities in the northern part of Gorkha. He also hoped the friendship between Japan and Nepal will be further strengthened through this project.
Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma, on the occasion, expressed JICA’s commitment to continuing its support to the post-earthquake recovery in Nepal based on the Build Back Better (BBB) concept. She also shared her hope that the new bridges will contribute to not just supporting speedy reconstruction and recovery in the surrounding areas, but also bringing in new energies, resources, and initiatives for longer-term sustainable development in the affected communities.
The local people around these areas have benefitted at large with this new development of extended accessibility and prefer calling the new bridges as 'Japanese bridges'. It is hoped that these bridges will help expedite recovery in the surrounding communities and also stands firm as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.