ADB approves $195m loan to upgrade Pokhara-Mugling road section
KATHMANDU, Oct 31: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $195 million to upgrade the Pokhara-Mugling road section—which links Pokhara to Kathmandu and to sub-regional corridors connecting Nepal with India and Bangladesh—to four lanes.
According to a press release by ADB, the 81-kilometer road section from Pokhara to Abukhaireni will be widened to four lanes. Improvements will be made to the surfacing, structure, and drainage, with safety features such as crash barriers, and traffic and other warning light systems installed.
“A second 8-km section between Mugling and Abukhaireni will be considered for a subsequent project,” the press release states.
“The road will be divided by a median, while service lanes in urban areas will improve safety, especially for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycle users. This is especially important since the country suffers a high rate of almost 16 deaths per 100,000 people due to traffic. Performance-based maintenance contracts of 5 years will strengthen road management and maintenance. The project will also install a landslide monitoring and management system to strengthen disaster resilience.”
Of the total $254 million total cost of the project, the Government of Nepal will provide $ 59 million.
The project is expected to complete by the end of 2025.
“The project will boost the traffic capacity, reliability, and safety of the main road link from Pokhara,” said ADB Transport Specialist Mr. Johan Georget.
“The highway will be widened to four lanes, and this will reduce travel times, lower transport costs, and improve access to domestic markets, jobs, and social services. The upgraded highway will also open a wider gateway for Nepal to international markets, especially in India, and facilitate the arrivals of tourists to the region of Pokhara and its hinterland,” he added. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $195 million to upgrade the Pokhara-Mugling road section—which links Pokhara to Kathmandu and to sub-regional corridors connecting Nepal with India and Bangladesh—to four lanes.
According to a press release by ADB, the 81-kilometer road section from Pokhara to Abukhaireni will be widened to four lanes. Improvements will be made to the surfacing, structure, and drainage, with safety features such as crash barriers, and traffic and other warning light systems installed.
“A second 8-km section between Mugling and Abukhaireni will be considered for a subsequent project,” the press release states.
“The road will be divided by a median, while service lanes in urban areas will improve safety, especially for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycle users. This is especially important since the country suffers a high rate of almost 16 deaths per 100,000 people due to traffic. Performance-based maintenance contracts of 5 years will strengthen road management and maintenance. The project will also install a landslide monitoring and management system to strengthen disaster resilience.”
Of the total $254 million total cost of the project, the Government of Nepal will provide $ 59 million.
The project is expected to complete by the end of 2025.
“The project will boost the traffic capacity, reliability, and safety of the main road link from Pokhara,” said ADB Transport Specialist Mr. Johan Georget.
“The highway will be widened to four lanes, and this will reduce travel times, lower transport costs, and improve access to domestic markets, jobs, and social services. The upgraded highway will also open a wider gateway for Nepal to international markets, especially in India, and facilitate the arrivals of tourists to the region of Pokhara and its hinterland,” he added.