Araniko Highway

The Cabinet has approved financial assistance for families displaced from informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, providing a one-time resettlement support of Rs 25,000 per family and monthly housing support of Rs 15,000 for up to five members for three months. Additionally, the government decided to accept foreign grants from Switzerland and China for development projects.

The 16-kilometer expansion of the Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel section of the Araniko Highway, initiated three years ago, is ongoing with approximately 70 percent physical progress achieved. The project, divided into two segments, aims to upgrade the road into a six-lane roadway but has encountered repeated delays due to material shortages, cost increases, monsoon disruptions, and utility relocation issues, making the original 36-month completion timeline unlikely.

Construction of the Sanga underpass, a key component of the Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel road expansion project, is nearing completion with approximately 90 percent of the work finished. The underpass aims to improve traffic flow and facilitate travel on the Arniko Highway by addressing the steep incline in the Sanga area. Vehicles exiting the Kathmandu Valley will use the underpass, while those entering will use the upper road.