By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 30: The government of Japan has handed over the reconstructed BP Highway to the Nepali government amidst a virtual programme on Thursday.
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Masamichi Saigo, handed over the reconstructed BP Highway to Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Basanta Kumar Nembang, virtually.
The 160-km long BP Highway, which joins Kathmandu with eastern Terai, was constructed by the Japanese government. The construction began in 1996 and was completed by 2015 and handed over to Nepal.
However, the earthquake in 2015 had damaged the highway following which the Japanese government decided to reconstruct it.
Hazama Ando Corporation, a Japanese company, had started the reconstruction from July 3, 2019 and completed the work in around 18 months. Other than sand and stone, most of the construction materials and technologies were brought from Japan.
Speaking at the virtual programme, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Saigo said that Japan will always lend its hand for the development of Nepal. Saigo also praised the relation and cooperation between the two nations.
Minister Nembang also expressed gratitude towards the Japanese government for the reconstruction of BP Highway.
“Nepal and Japan have been friends for long, and we have received extensive support from Japan in sectors of construction, energy, transportation, drinking water, sewage management, education, health, agriculture and peace peace. We thank the Japanese government for their support and we expect to strengthen our relation further,” said Nembang.