Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Japan has officially begun rehabilitation of the flood-damaged sections of the BP Highway, following a groundbreaking ceremony held on Monday.
Ministry of Infrastructure Development Gopal Prasad Sigdel and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Maeda Toru, attended the ceremony.
The ‘Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road Affected by Floods’ will be implemented by Shimizu Corporation— one of Japan’s leading construction firms.
Stretching 160 kilometers, the highway serves as a vital corridor connecting the mid- and eastern Tarai with Kathmandu. The road was originally constructed with Japanese grant assistance worth 25.8 billion yen between 1995 and 2015 and has since played a significant role in facilitating trade, transport, and economic growth, the Embassy of Japan said in a statement.
The highway sustained severe damage during floods triggered by continuous heavy rainfall in September 2024. More than 10 kilometres of the road were washed away, disrupting transportation and affecting local livelihoods as well as broader economic activity.
Responding to a request from the Government of Nepal, the Government of Japan extended grant assistance of 2.8 billion yen for the emergency rehabilitation work.
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal, and the Embassy of Japan believes that this project will be instrumental for Nepal in achieving sustainable economic development and further deepening the enduring
friendship between the two countries,” the embassy added in the statement.
