Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road was jointly conducted today by the Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MoID), Mr. Gopal Prasad Sigdel, in the gracious presence of H.E. Mr. MAEDA Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Mr. Matsuzaki Mizuki, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal, along with other distinguished guests.

The Government of Nepal and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Grant Agreement for the project “Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road Affected by Floods” on 30 October 2025 to provide financial assistance of up to 2.8 billion Japanese Yen (approximately NPR 2.3 billion).

The primary objective of this grant aid is to enhance traffic safety and build a more resilient road infrastructure by rehabilitating flood-damaged areas and widening vulnerable sections of Sindhuli Road Section IV, which were severely affected by heavy rainfall in September 2024. The project is expected to significantly contribute to Nepal’s social and economic development by ensuring reliable and efficient transport connectivity.

The Sindhuli Road, a 160 km national highway connecting Kathmandu to the Mid and Eastern Terai, stands as a landmark infrastructure project developed with Japanese Grant Aid valued at approximately 25.8 billion Japanese Yen, making it the largest such grant provided globally. Since its operation began in March 2015, the road has dramatically reduced travel time between Kathmandu and Bardibas from over 9 hours to approximately 5 hours. The road has emerged as a vital development hub, enhancing local livelihoods and creating new economic opportunities for surrounding communities.

The rehabilitation project underscores the continued partnership between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan in building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable development.

Expressing his appreciation to the Government of Japan and recognizing it as Nepal’s most trusted development partner, Mr. Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary, MoID, reiterated during the ceremony that the timely rehabilitation and strengthening of the Sindhuli Road is of utmost national importance. He further emphasized that the highway will be upgraded to withstand future disasters and will serve as a model for resilient road infrastructure development across Nepal.

Mr. MATSUZAKI in his remarks stated that, “JICA is honored to support the Government of Nepal’s initiative to reconstruct key and technically challenging sections of Section 4 of the Sindhuli Road. This milestone signifies not only the launch of reconstruction works through Japanese Grant Aid, but also a renewed commitment to strengthening Nepal’s safe and resilient transport infrastructure”.

The expected completion date is 31^st December 2027.

For more details, please contact:
Ms. Brinda Singh – Senior Public Relations Officer (JICA Nepal Office)
Singhbrinda.np@jica.go.jp