The Department of Roads, the government agency responsible for road construction, development, and maintenance, has requested Rs 53 billion for the urgent repair and reconstruction of major road networks, including the Prithvi Highway and the Kaligandaki Corridor. This request follows extensive damage caused by recent floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.
The department’s budget demand is part of a larger national recovery initiative. On Monday, October 5, 2026, the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, chaired by Prime Minister Balen Shah, approved a budget of Rs 559.17 billion for 504 proposed plans and programs across various ministries and bodies. This comprehensive budget is now awaiting approval from the Ministry of Finance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood-affected areas.
Devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on August 26, 2026, impacted dozens of settlements across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, and Chitwan districts. Prime Minister Balen Shah stated on Monday that the floods fully damaged 406 homes and partially damaged 736 others. Additionally, 26 kilometres of roads were blocked, and 136 roads and bridges sustained damage.
The 202-kilometre Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, a critical section of the damaged network, suffered damage at 46 locations. Initial estimates from the Department of Roads suggest that immediate repairs for roads and bridges will cost approximately Rs 350 million, with an additional Rs 3.87 billion required for bridge repairs alone.
Expedited Repairs for Festival Travel
In anticipation of upcoming festivals, the Department of Roads instructed its subordinate bodies to complete an initial phase of repairs by September 26, 2026. Consequently, by October 1, 2026, repair work on the Beni-Jomsom section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road was expedited under the leadership of Project Chief Tejashwi Sharma, with some sections already open for traffic.
Ganesh Gaire, the Chief District Officer of Myagdi, and Rajan Karki, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Myagdi, confirmed that traffic has partially resumed on the Myagdi section of the Beni-Jomsom road. However, they noted that fuel supply issues are hindering the full restoration of the road to its previous condition, and inter-district coordination is underway to address this challenge.
Broader Economic and Strategic Impact
The Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods on August 26, 2026, also completely destroyed the Kerung border post complex on the Nepal-China border, severely impacting the northern trade route. Experts, including Mohan Kumar Shakya, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Sushil Chandra Acharya, joint secretary at the same ministry, and Anshukiran Shahi, a board member of Nepal Electricity Authority, have analysed that the floods and landslides have had a cascading effect not only on road infrastructure but also on approximately 1,100 megawatts of hydropower projects, the stock market, and the overall economy.
The Kaligandaki Corridor, a 254-kilometre-long highway that starts from Gaindakot and ends at Korala near the Chinese border, is one of Nepal’s National Pride Projects. Although its construction began in December 2018 and was scheduled for completion by December 2021, progress has been slow.
Government’s Long-Term Response
The government has decided to halt search and rescue operations following the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods and is now intensifying reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Prime Minister Balen Shah stated that the government is working to strengthen and systematise early warning systems for disaster risk reduction and is also taking necessary steps to mitigate avalanche risks.
According to Engineer Bhimarjun Adhikari, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, the ministry is preparing to establish a dedicated ‘Maintenance and Disaster Resilience Unit’ to manage infrastructure damage from floods, landslides, and other disasters. Arjun Jang Thapa, a member of the National Planning Commission and an infrastructure expert, informed that work is progressing with consultants to change the design of roads and bridges, and discussions are also underway to create separate positions for expert engineers specialising in disaster resilience.
Unanswered Questions
It remains unclear how the Rs 53 billion requested for road repairs from Krishna Bhir to Korala fits within the larger Rs 559.17 billion budget approved for flood-affected areas. A specific timeline for the full reconstruction and operation of the Krishna Bhir to Korala road has not yet been set. Furthermore, details on how long-term financial arrangements for disaster-resilient infrastructure and the implementation of climate change-related plans will be addressed are still pending. The effectiveness of new design codes and institutional changes in mitigating future disaster impacts on road infrastructure also remains to be seen. Specific information regarding the impact of the damage and repairs to the Krishna Bhir-Korala road on trade routes and the economy of Madhesh Province and the Terai region is not yet available.
