Since its establishment, the Department of Roads (DoR) has constructed 36,132 kilometers of roads across the country as of Falgun 2081 BS (mid-February to mid-March 2025). This includes 19,163 kilometers of black-topped roads, 8,204 kilometers of gravel roads, and 8,765 kilometers of earthen roads under the strategic road network and national highways.

A senior official at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) stated that various bodies—including the DoR, provincial governments, local governments, and the former District Development Committees—have built approximately 100,000 kilometers of roads in total.

In 2076 BS (2019), the Cabinet designated 80 highways as national highways. The Department of Roads now oversees these 80 national and auxiliary highways, while provincial and local governments manage the remaining roads.

The Ministry of Finance reported in the Economic Survey for Fiscal Year 2081/82 (2024/25) that by the end of Ashad 2081 BS (mid-July 2024), the total length of roads across the country had reached 35,490 kilometers. This figure includes 18,808 kilometers of black-topped roads, 8,024 kilometers of gravel roads, and 8,658 kilometers of earthen roads.

Between Ashad and Falgun 2081 BS (mid-July 2024 to mid-February to mid-March 2025), authorities increased the total road length from 35,490 kilometers to 36,132 kilometers. During this period, they constructed 107 kilometers of new roads. They also upgraded 180 kilometers to gravel standard and 355 kilometers to blacktop standard.

Progress so far

According to the Economic Survey, the DoR blacktopped 1,452 kilometers of the total 1,879-kilometer Mid-Hill Highway (Madhya Pahadi Lokmarg) by the end of Ashad 2081 BS (mid-July 2024). By the end of Falgun 2081 BS (mid-February to mid-March 2025), it blacktopped an additional 11 kilometers, bringing the total to 1,463 kilometers. The MoPIT reported that it completed 107 out of 137 planned bridges along this highway by the end of Falgun (mid-March).

For the 1,857-kilometer Postal Highway (Hulaki Lokmarg), the Ministry reported blacktopping 1,259 kilometers—including link roads—by the end of Ashad 2081 BS. By mid-March, it added another 32 kilometers of black-topped roads, reaching a total of 1,291 kilometers. According to the Economic Survey, the MoPIT completed 142 out of the 250 planned bridges along this highway by the same period.

The North-South Highway, known as the Kaligandaki Corridor, spans a total length of 447 kilometers and begins from Gaindakot in Chitwan. By Falgun 2081 BS (mid-February to mid-March 2025), workers had blacktopped 195 kilometers of the 245-kilometer Gaindakot–Ramdi–Malidhunga section.

By Ashad 2081 BS (mid-July 2024), construction teams completed 87 kilometers of gravel road, 60 kilometers of black-topped road, and built 10 bridges along the Malidhunga-Beni-Jomsom-Korala section. By Falgun 2081 BS, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had blacktopped an additional 65 kilometers of road and constructed 13 bridges.

The Karnali Corridor stretches 269 kilometers, with workers having constructed 268.3 kilometers of track by Falgun 2081 BS. The Koshi Corridor extends 162 kilometers, where they built 89 kilometers of gravel road and 5 kilometers of paved road.

The survey shows that authorities have constructed 11 bridges in this section. Nepal considers the Galchi-Syafru Besi-Rasuwagadhi road a strategic route. According to the Economic Survey, officials had blacktopped 339 kilometers of this road and built 127 bridges by Falgun 2081 BS.

The government launched the Madan Bhandari Highway project seven years ago to improve transportation for people living in the Chure region (Inner Terai) from eastern Jhapa to western Dadeldhura, but the project has progressed very slowly. The project report states that the highway advanced by only about two percent in one year. By the end of fiscal year 2023/24, officials had completed 52 percent of the highway's physical construction.

The DoR reported that the project's progress grew by about two percent, reaching 54 percent in fiscal year 2024/25. The Madan Bhandari Highway project began seven years ago, but it has completed only about half of the work so far. Because of this slow progress, the project will not finish within the originally scheduled time.

In fiscal year 2024/25, authorities extended the project's deadline by three years. The project submitted a proposal for this extension to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, which approved it in the previous fiscal year. If the project finishes within this extension, the final deadline is the end of Ashad 2085 BS (mid-July 2028). However, even the project staff doubt that they will complete the work within this period.

By Bhuwan Sharma