Kanchanpur To Kamala Six Lane -Upgrading EW (Mahendra) Highway in Asian Standard || AH2 in Nepal ||

The Government of Nepal (GON) is working towards accelerating the economic
development of the country while redressing regional imbalances and inequalities. Access to road
transport is a key determinant of economic development and socioeconomic opportunities. The
Government of Nepal requested the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support
the improvement of the east–west highway (EWH). The proposed project aims to improve the
efficiency and adequacy of the transport system by addressing the deterioration of road asset
conditions, the poor safety of the transport network, and the limited cross-border connectivity.
The project will (i) rehabilitate and upgrade about 87 kilometers (km) of national highway between
the Kanchanpur and Kamala section of the EWH in the southeastern part of Nepal, (ii) improve
road safety and road maintenance on the EWH, (iii) strengthen the capacity of the Department of
Roads (DOR) under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MOPIT) in road safety
and road maintenance and (iv) expand the DOR building. The USD 245 million project his will be
financed by a USD 180 million loan from the ADB and USD 65 million in GON counterpart
financing. The executive agency will be DOR.
2. The road improvements will consist in upgrading and widening of the existing road into
four lanes with intermediately service laneson both side, additional road side structures, geometry
improvements, pavement construction with asphalts concrete, drainage improvement, retaining
structures, slope protection/stabilization; bridge construction, works on traffic management and
road safety.
3. According to detail engineering design, the new bridges have been designed either right
or the left at existing bridges with considering curve of road. The width of the new bridges has
been designed by 11 meters where 3 meters pedestrian walkway is also included. Altogether 38
km length, mainly in 6 lanes area has been designed footpath in this road improvement project.
Two overhead bridges have been designed in Lahan likewise two underpasses are also in Lahan
and another two under pass in Rupani Bazar area. Likewise, nearly 1 km footpath facilities placed
by all culvert area.