KATHMANDU: The physical progress of the underpass under construction at Sanga, the major entry point into the Kathmandu Valley from eastern Nepal, has reached approximately 95 percent completion.

With the construction of the main structure and approach roads fully finished, travel here is set to become smoother and safer. Regarded as the most crucial and attractive component of the Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel road expansion project along the Araniko Highway, this modern structure is expected to relegate the hardships previously faced by commuters to history.

Physical conditions and technical details of the underpass

Well-designed from both geographical and engineering perspectives, the underpass has a total length of 1,110 meters. The latest status of the project is as follows:

Road Structure: The total length includes a 190-meter approach road on the Banepa side and a 900-meter approach road on the Bhaktapur side.

Main Underpass: The main structure is 18 meters long, with a height of 6 meters and a width of 10.5 meters.

Current work progress: The first phase of blacktopping has been completed. Currently, the construction of side retaining walls and the final phase of blacktopping are underway at a rapid pace.

New traffic arrangements for vehicles

Once this project is fully completed, vehicles heading toward Banepa from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur will travel through the accessible route of the underpass, while vehicles entering Kathmandu from the Banepa side will use the upper road.

Special arrangements for the monsoon Season

Special temporary arrangements have been made to prevent traffic management from becoming chaotic while the remaining road work is being executed. To ensure safety and ease while working on the upper lane, preparations are underway to run vehicles heading both into and out of Kathmandu through the two lanes of this underpass for the time being.

Status of the overall road expansion project

The 15.8-kilometer-long Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel road expansion project is being upgraded by dividing it into two sections:

First Section: Suryabinayak to Sanga (7.5 kilometers)

Second Section: Sanga to Dhulikhel (8.3 kilometers)

Compared to the first section, the road construction work from Sanga to Dhulikhel is progressing at a much faster pace. Following a second extension of the project’s deadline, the construction period has been pushed to mid-March 2027.

According to project sources, since the physical progress of the overall project has reached around 95 percent, the target is to fully complete all road work within this year. Along with the construction of the Sanga underpass, this infrastructure will save time for the general public traveling on the Araniko Highway and prove to be a significant milestone in traffic management.

Photos: