May 7: The physical progress in the construction of the Postal Highway, one of the national pride projects, currently stands at 70 percent. Out of 1,857 km of the highway, blacktopping of 957 km has been completed so far.

According to the Directorate of Postal Highway Project, they project is being delayed especially because the road falls in forest areas. Besides, the delay in construction of bridges is also hampering the project. Apart from some sections of the highway, the construction in other places has been completed or is in the process of construction.

Project chief Chuda Raj Dhakal says that 211 km of roads have yet to be contracted. They are also yet to sign a contract to build the Sattari Bridge. 

The construction of roads in forest areas of Chitwan, Nawalpur, Kapilvastu, Banke and Dang districts is yet to proceed due to lack of approval for constructing a road in forest area.

Chief Dhakal said that since the layout of the road is close to the east-west highway in some sections, a decision has yet to be made whether to connect the Postal Highway to it or build it according to the layout. He said, "It is yet to be decided whether to make the Postal Highway of two lanes or to construct it in the forest area in Dang, Kapilvastu, Banke."

The progress in this fiscal year is 60 percent, according to the Directorate of Postal Highway Project. The officials said that the previously allocated amount will not be enough. Dhakal said that an additional amount of Rs 2 billion has been requested this year. He said, "When that money is received and the work is resumed, 95 percent progress will be made this year."

He said that a total of 250 km of road was planned to be blacktopped, but now 200 km is about to be black topped. Apart from black topping, this year there is more work on other structures, so a plan has been made to reduce black topping. Eight bridges have been completed this year and seven are nearing completion.

Chief Dhakal said that from Shivgadi temple in Dang to Kapilvastu, Dang and some areas of Banke, there are forest areas without settlements. From Lamhi to West Park, all areas are covered with forests. He said, “There is also a possibility that a three and a half km tunnel can be built in Chure.”

The Postal Highway was earlier termed as the Postal Bridge project. In the agreement made in the year 2065/66 BS, it was planned that Indian technicians and construction professionals would come and build bridges there. Due to various reasons, the work could not be done in that form. After the Indian side left and returned in the year 2073/74 BS, the government started the rest of the construction by forming the Postal Highway Project Directorate.

As part of the plan, 881 km long feeder road is being constructed. There was an agreement that 245 km of this would be constructed by the Government of India and the rest by the Government of Nepal. The Government of India has completed the construction and handed it over and the rest is being constructed by the Government of Nepal.

The National Planning Commission has set a target to complete the Postal Highway project by the year 2079/80 BS. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has said that the deadline of the national pride should be increased even though it could not be constructed due to Covid-19 in the past years.

Postal Highway was started with the goal of realizing a prosperous Terai-Madhes. It is also the route connecting East Terai to West Terai. As nearly half of the country's population resides in the Madhes region, it is expected that people will have more access to infrastructures after the completion of the project. The government expects that the highway will open up new possibilities in the areas of trade and agriculture in that area. -- RSS