Can the Grant from China Improve the Severe Condition of the Araniko Highway?
Photo Credit, Narayan Dutta Bhandari
The Chinese government has provided a grant of nearly NPR 180 crore to prevent a 200-meter-long landslide area on the Araniko Highway, which suffered severe damage following the devastating 2015 earthquake, according to Nepalese officials.
The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to accept the grant of 79.36 million RMB (over NPR 179 crore) from the Chinese government for the repair and improvement of the Araniko Highway.
The Nepalese government had previously awarded a contract from its own resources during this fiscal year for landslide prevention stretching about 200 meters, but with the Chinese grant now available, it will be replaced by the Chinese side, an official from the Road Department stated.
The 2015 earthquake caused extensive damage to roads and infrastructure, severely slowing traffic along the Nepal-China primary trade route at the Tatopani border, displacing more than ten thousand people, with some communities still residing in risky displacement zones, a local representative conveyed.
Last month, China and Nepal signed a grant agreement exceeding NPR 1.2 billion for the second phase expansion of Kathmandu’s Ring Road.
The decision to approve China’s grant for the Araniko Highway repair came during preparations for the Review Meeting of Project and Development Assistance between Nepal and China.
The meeting, expected in early June, will be attended by Nepal’s Foreign Secretary and the Chinese Ambassador.
What Do Road Department Officials Say?
According to Arjun Prasad Aryal, Chief of the Development Assistance Implementation Sub-division at the Road Department, the project contracted by the Nepalese government to prevent landslides within a year will be handed over to the Chinese side, which will replace the earlier plan.
He stated, “There is a large landslide about one kilometer from the border with settlements above that often cause problems. Previously, this road was constructed with Chinese aid. We requested a grant for two years, and now they have come forward to help. We plan to quickly conclude the agreement and begin work at the project site by mid-July.”
He added that the grant will almost fully cover the expenses for preventing landslides located 113 kilometers from Kathmandu.
Aryal further explained, “There are landslides in some parts of this road, with a river below causing erosion from underneath. Geologically, it is a sensitive area. The risk of landslides rises during earthquakes and rainy seasons.”
He noted that the Chinese side will select contractors and consultants for the project.
Photo Credit, Pasang Nurpu Sherpa
Narayan Datt Bhandari, Chief Engineer of the Road Division in Charikot, stated that although a contract was awarded and work was to start this fiscal year, the project was paused after the Chinese side informed them of their intention to take over the repair work.
He added, “The road is completely damaged and slanted, with about 200 houses at risk above. The road currently resembles an unpaved track used by vehicles. When rainfall occurs, the road washes away, necessitating repeated repairs.”
Describing the condition as ‘severe,’ he stated Nepal is fast-tracking the contract work it initiated, with a Chinese team recently arriving for on-site studies.
Nepal had awarded a contract worth approximately NPR 48 crore for that site. Officials noted that the contractor had already begun excavating the site and delivered some materials.
Officials from the Road Department stated that in many sections of the Araniko Highway, landslides and road collapses continue but repairs are ongoing using government resources.
Narayan Datt Bhandari also mentioned belibridges have been installed at certain locations and that the Ministry of Finance recently allocated funds for bridge construction in Larcha and Liping areas, with contracts awarded for a bridge in Khagdal.
He also noted that a 36-kilometer section of road from Bahrabis to Kodari is currently being upgraded, and due to geographical challenges and rainy season risks, they are prepared to mitigate possible disruptions.
Local Representatives Speak Out
Photo Credit, Suraj Maharjan/File photo
The Kathmandu-Kodari road was initially constructed following an agreement when King Mahendra visited China in 1961, completed in 1967.
For decades, it served as a major trade route between the two countries, but traffic has slowed in recent years at the Tatopani border, explained Pasang Nurpu Sherpa, Chairperson of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality.
He said, “Especially from Bahrabis to Liping in the border region, yearly landslides cause numerous problems, blocking the road at six to seven points. We are urging the central and provincial governments to relocate settlements at risk from landslides immediately.”
Tulbahadur Pandey, Information Officer at Tatopani Customs in Sindhupalchok Larcha, disclosed that though a revenue collection target of NPR 2.447 billion was set for this fiscal year, only NPR 117 million had been collected by the 5th of the Nepali month Jestha.
Pasang Nurpu Sherpa remarked, “Tatopani is a major border crossing connecting Nepal and China. It plays a vital role in economic recovery but the deteriorating road conditions seem to marginalize it.”
He added, “Before the earthquake, about 29 thousand people lived here; now the population has dropped to about 15 thousand. People used to run small businesses and livelihood was manageable locally, so migration abroad was not necessary. After the quake, many had to migrate. Efforts are underway to bring back the youth who left, but the border is not as accessible as before.”
Strict regulation of transportation vehicles, their parts, prepared clothes, and electronic devices along the Nepal-China route has caused revenue collection to be less than 23 percent in the first ten months of this fiscal year.
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