Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The total length of blacktopped roads across the country has reached 17,480 kilometers as of mid-March, 2023.
According to the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2022/23, the country has 7,956 kilometers of gravel roads and 8,664 kilometers of unpaved roads. The federal government has constructed a total of 34,100 kilometers of roads up to this period.
The survey reveals that blacktopped roads account for 51.3% of the country’s total road network, while gravel roads make up 23.3%, and unpaved roads constitute 25.4%. The total length of roads stood 33,996 kilometers till June, 2022. An additional 104 kilometers of new roads have been constructed till mid-March of the current fiscal year which ends in mid-July.
During the period, 316 kilometers of roads have been upgraded to gravel level, and 248 kilometers of roads have been upgraded to blacktop level. Additionally, 8,254 kilometers of roads have undergone regular repairs and maintenance.
The survey highlights the completion of periodic maintenance on 278 kilometers of roads. Moreover, 75 bridges have been constructed within this timeframe. In the previous financial year, 280 kilometers of new roads were constructed, with an upgrade of 335 kilometers to gravel level and 618 kilometers to blacktop level.
Furthermore, 7,800 kilometers of roads underwent regular repairs and maintenance, while periodic maintenance on 250 kilometers of roads was completed. A total of 282 bridges were constructed last year.
