Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The long-awaited Gwarko Overpass in Lalitpur, a critical infrastructure project aimed at alleviating chronic traffic congestion in one of Kathmandu Valley’s busiest intersections, was officially inaugurated today by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The 576.2-meter overpass, including a 36.2-meter bridge and ramps extending 320 meters toward Lagankhel and 185 meters toward Satdobato, is designed to streamline four-lane traffic flow, offering relief to commuters plagued by persistent gridlock.
The project, managed by the Quality Research and Development Centre under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, faced multiple delays since its contract was awarded to Ashish-Samanantar Railgear JV on February 24, 2022, with an initial completion target of February 23, 2024. Extended deadlines in June 2024 and December 2024 were missed due to technical challenges, including design revisions and soil stabilization issues.
The uneven soil compression under the Satdobato approach road caused structural misalignment, requiring additional work on Panels 4 and 5. According to spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, these complexities led to a one-month construction halt in December 2024 and January 2025. The contractor faced penalties of NPR 14.7 million for delays.
Originally budgeted at NPR 170.69 million, the project’s cost escalated to NPR 314.65 million due to unforeseen technical adjustments, including soil reinforcement for the retaining wall. The overpass, with a 16.4-meter width, is built to Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) standards, ensuring the contractor’s responsibility for design flaws for 10 years and construction defects for five years.
The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office anticipates significant traffic relief at Gwarko, though Superintendent Deepak Giri noted potential congestion shifts to Satdobato, urging longer overpass designs in future projects. Infrastructure expert Gajendra Prasad Thapaliya emphasized the necessity of overpasses and underpasses in urban centers like Koteshwor, Baneshwor, and Chabahil to address growing traffic demands.
A recent inspection by the Infrastructure Development Committee, led by Deepak Singh, highlighted pending tasks, including streetlight and CCTV installations for safety. Minister Devendra Dahal’s persistent oversight ensured completion within the fiscal year. With plans for additional tunnels and underpasses in FY 2082/83, such as Tokha-Chhahare and New Baneshwor, Nepal aims to modernize its urban transport infrastructure, reducing traffic bottlenecks and boosting economic efficiency.
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