Himal Press 
Photo: RSS
KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has called for immediate operation of the road connecting Khandbari, the district headquarters of Sankhuwasabha, to Kimathanka, a northern border point with China.
Minister Khadka met with Minister for Defence Manbir Rai on Friday and drew attention to the slow progress in constructing the Khandbari–Kimathanka road.
The road is being built by the Nepal Army.
During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the current status of the construction work. Minister Khadka said the road is part of the Koshi-Lhasa Highway and will play a critical role in trilateral transit once completed, facilitating trade and connectivity among Nepal, India and China, as well as Bangladesh.
He further added that the road could serve as a milestone in Nepal’s economic development, enhancing access to the Arun River, which flows through the Kimathanka region, with significant hydropower potential.
In response, Minister Rai directed the Nepal Army to complete the construction with urgency.
Colonel Dharmendra Kumar Jha of the Nepal Army, who was also present in the meeting, said track opening works on the challenging sections of the Khandbari–Kimathanka road is nearing completion. Stating that the current budget allocation is insufficient, Jha said the road could be completed and made operational within two months if adequate funding is provided.
The section of the Koshi-Lhasa Highway from Jogbani to Khandbari has already been blacktopped. Meanwhile, the Nepal Army is working on track opening and upgrading the 158.51-kilometer stretch between Khandbari and Kimathanka.
(Translated from RSS)
