New Hetauda-Kathmandu freeway coming and it’s giant

There’s only one highway from Kathmandu directly to the Indian border – and it’s often a hassle taking it. Congestion can cause major delays and even when it doesn’t, the trip easily takes 7-8 hours. But now those troubles may soon be gone. A four-lane freeway – with miles-long tunnels – it set to cut through hills and rocks from Hetauda to the capital. New travel time: one hour! The company behind it is NPBCL or Nepal Burwadhar Bikash Company Ltd and the project title: Kathmandu-Kulekhani-Hetauda Tunnel (KKHT) Highway. The video opposite is in Nepali but shows an animation that tells the story.

Plus, visit NPBCL’s website for details! The projection is that the highway can be built in 4 years. Still no project start or deadline is officially set, to our knowledge, but the formalities – concession and letter of permission from the government – are in place. It’s 58 km. of road, including three tunnels with a total length of 4,5 km, and the price tag? 345 million USD. Funding is a jig-saw puzzle of private and public money. Of course, that particular aspect might mean delays – everything from local VDCs to foreign donors are set to contribute – but construction has commenced, so for now the highway is underway! Read more here and here.

NB: It’s going to be a toll road and NPBCL will have the concession for 30 years after completion…