KATHMANDU: Construction work on the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project—an 8.2-kilometer stretch from Kalanki to Basundhara—is set to begin immediately after the major festive season (Dashain–Tihar).

Project Chief Ashika Pokharel informed that following the approval of the final design, the Chinese side is preparing to complete the tendering process in China and move forward with the construction work.

According to her, the service lanes outside the main expressway are being built using Nepal’s internal resources. Around 80 percent of this work has already been completed, with only blacktopping remaining in a few sections.

She stated that the Chinese side has already submitted the preliminary design for the main expressway. The Nepali side has provided necessary suggestions and feedback, and the project is currently at the stage of receiving the final design submission. “There isn’t a fixed date yet, but we expect it to enter the implementation phase after the monsoon and the festive season,” Pokharel said.

She expressed confidence that the construction process would move quickly, as the tendering process in China takes less time compared to Nepal. She noted that the project faced delays primarily due to the time required for site clearance.

Pokharel explained that the Chinese side could not start construction earlier because clearing houses, trees, and other structures took time, and the COVID-19 pandemic further pushed the project back by three to four years. However, she emphasized that necessary paperwork, correspondence, surveys, and design work have been progressing continuously in recent times.

The initial estimated cost of the project was around Rs 12 billion. However, due to inflation and design enhancements, the cost estimate is currently being updated.

She mentioned that the exact final cost will only be made public once the revised cost details are received along with the final design. Lessons learned from potential complications in the second phase are being proactively identified and addressed. “During the implementation of the first phase, we learned what kinds of complexities arise. Therefore, to address those shortcomings, we have been conducting extensive studies, technical exercises, and correspondence right from the beginning,” Pokharel added.

According to her, the Chinese side has also committed to completing the construction on schedule. As the construction will temporarily cause inconvenience to the public, she requested everyone to remain patient.

All photos: Suryams Uprety/ Nepal Photo Library