Nepalese ring road nears completion

The Nepalese Government is building a 42km long ring road in eastern Nepal at Biratnagar. The project is designed to boost the economy in the area and the work includes laying new utilities. The work has a cost estimate of some US$439.3 million. So far 32km has been completed with the remaining 9km due to be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Work on the ring road started in 1997 but was stopped due disputes over land compensation. The original estimate for the road was a mere 6.1 million and the cost has increased by a factor of 72 times. Meanwhile the Nepalese Army has built a new bridge for the Chinchu-Jajarkot road section at Chegar. The bridge crosses the Bheri River and measures 105m long by 4.2m wide. This is the largest bridge of its type in the country. It cost $71 million to build, has a weight capacity of 20tonnes and an expected lifespsan of 100 years.