Construction work for a key road construction project in Nepal between Narayanghat and Butwal is being delayed. The road stretch forms part of Nepal’s East-West Highway and involves widening a 114km section of the route.
The work was originally planned to be ready for traffic by mid-2024, but the completion is now expected in mid-2026. The project has been facing serious challenges however, with landslips along a 14km stretch having occurred over a six-month period from mid-2025.
Surfacing has been laid along the majority of the route but the landslips on the 14km section have delayed paving of this stretch. The existing road is in poor condition and causes long delays for drivers, while traffic safety is also an issue.
The project is on of several in Nepal intended to boost road transport. Capital Kathmandu has benefited from extensive works to improve road transport but links across the rest of the country remain in need of major construction improvements.
