B.P. Koirala Highway
Encyclopedia
The B.P. Koirala Highway, also known as the Banepa Bardibas Highway, is a highway in eastern Nepal
. It links Kathmandu Valley
with the Eastern Terai
region. It is named after the former leader of Nepal, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala
.
, it is critical to be completed for emergency evacuation and relief purposes. Currently, Kathmandu relies solely upon one congested westward "highway" for its road links to the south: India, the Terai
region, and Bangladesh. The capital region has no rail or navigable river links. Despite this, the highway criss-crosses through mountain regions with hairpin turns of widths of one bus wide in numerous areas.
The entire highway from Kathmandu to Bardibas
via Dhulikhel
has a project completion date of 2011, for a total of 158 km. This alternate route will reduce the journey from Kathmandu to Bardibas and other cities east of Bardibas by atleast 200 km
The highway has existed in various stages for decades, with large unimproved portions. The 37 km section of the lowlands between Bardibas
and Sindhuli has been in operation for many years, the 50 km section between Banepa
and Nepalthok of Bagmati region was completed in 2005 with Japanese grant money. However, a major part linking the two improved regions was only completed in February 2009, funded with Japanese loans and contractors.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It links Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley , located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.-Etymology:The city of...
with the Eastern Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
region. It is named after the former leader of Nepal, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala
Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala
Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 1959 to 1960. He led the Nepali Congress, a social democratic political party.Koirala was the first democratically elected Prime Minister in Nepal's history...
.
Route
This route is vitally important in that it is the only major eastbound exit from highly populated and quake prone Kathmandu ValleyKathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley , located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.-Etymology:The city of...
, it is critical to be completed for emergency evacuation and relief purposes. Currently, Kathmandu relies solely upon one congested westward "highway" for its road links to the south: India, the Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
region, and Bangladesh. The capital region has no rail or navigable river links. Despite this, the highway criss-crosses through mountain regions with hairpin turns of widths of one bus wide in numerous areas.
The entire highway from Kathmandu to Bardibas
Bardibas
Bardibas is a village development committee in Mahottari District in the Janakpur Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 6049 people living in 1090 individual households.-Transport:...
via Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel is the administrative centre of Kavrepalanchok District, Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 9812 people in 1624 households. Dhulikhel lies along the B.P. Highway and Arniko Highway. Arniko Highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's...
has a project completion date of 2011, for a total of 158 km. This alternate route will reduce the journey from Kathmandu to Bardibas and other cities east of Bardibas by atleast 200 km
The highway has existed in various stages for decades, with large unimproved portions. The 37 km section of the lowlands between Bardibas
Bardibas
Bardibas is a village development committee in Mahottari District in the Janakpur Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 6049 people living in 1090 individual households.-Transport:...
and Sindhuli has been in operation for many years, the 50 km section between Banepa
Banepa
Banepa is a Municipality town located 26 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 12537 and had 1956 households in it. The main attraction of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 km northeast of the town along the...
and Nepalthok of Bagmati region was completed in 2005 with Japanese grant money. However, a major part linking the two improved regions was only completed in February 2009, funded with Japanese loans and contractors.