Nagdhunga-Muglin road works resume as bitumen supply restored

Construction on the Naubise-Malekhu section of the Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project has restarted at full pace following the restoration of bitumen supply. The project had been delayed by the West Asia conflict and local issues.

Work is currently concentrated on completing the road base and laying asphalt on a three-kilometer stretch between Naubise and Dharke, with rapid progress also noted in the Ghatbesi section. Project chief Keshav Ojha stated that paving in market areas and on challenging inclines is a priority to enhance travel and safety before the monsoon.

The project office reports that approximately nine kilometers of road have been excavated for paving, with another ten kilometers of the existing blacktopped road awaiting excavation. Infrastructure development is also advancing, with ten of the thirteen planned bridges now open to traffic. Slab casting is underway for two of the remaining three bridges, and work on the third, previously stalled by a court case, is expected to resume soon after a favorable ruling.

Simultaneously, construction is progressing on bridges over Sopyang Khola and Khahare Khola, alongside road safety measures and retaining walls. Efforts are also being made on the Malekhu-Muglin section to remove loose rocks and soil from vulnerable slopes, mitigating landslide risks during the monsoon. Officials anticipate that the completed, widened road will significantly improve travel safety and convenience to and from Kathmandu.

“

paving work has been prioritised in market areas and on steep and difficult stretches to ease travel and improve safety before the onset of the monsoon.