Minister Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kul Man Ghising has inspected the under-construction East-West Asian Highway.

With the investment of the government of Nepal and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank, a 95-kilometre road from Kakarbhitta in Jhapa to Labipur in Sunsari is being upgraded as per the standards of the Asian Highway. The overall construction progress of the project is 25 per cent.

According to his secretariat, Minister Ghising discussed with the Director General of the Department of Roads, Project Chief, Consultant and Construction Entrepreneurs on the progress of road construction from Itahari to Birtamod, problems seen in the construction, and work to be done to resolve the problems.

He said that road upgrading work has begun, but it appears that the work is not progressing at the pace it should.

Stating that the onset of winter is the right season to speed up the work, Minister Ghising urged the concerned authorities to increase the speed of the work by adding manpower.

He said that although there were some problems in moving the electricity poles on the right and left sides of the road, the problem would be resolved by necessary coordination with the Nepal Electricity Authority and the construction would not be affected.

The road is being constructed in two sections. The construction progress of the 45-kilometre section from Kakadbhitta to Kerkha Sitapuri in Jhapa is 29 per cent.

A contract agreement was signed for the construction of this section in November 2023 to complete the construction within three years.

The construction progress of the 50-kilometre road from Sitapuri to Labipur in Sunsari is only 13 per cent.

The project will construct 134 culverts and wildlife-friendly underpasses, seven vehicle underpasses, and five sky bridges, among other road structures.