1.    Background

Narayanghat to Mugling Road was constructed from 1978 to 1982 under Chinese government’s grant assistance Narayanghat - Mugling road is classed as a National Highway (H05), starts at Anptari (bypass road to Bharatpur) and ends at Mugling in Chitwan district. After Ramnagar the road runs along the Trishuli River. The project road has bridge crossing over 18 tributaries of Trishuli River. Narayanghat to Mugling Road (H 05) is one of the most important highway connecting the capital city Kathmandu to outside world via Terai. Over 90 % of daily consumer goods, commodities, industrial raw materials and fuel are being transported through this highway. Obviously, export of the country heavily depends on it too. Thus, the day to day economy of the country is governed by this very road. 

2.    Location Map

3.    Improvement of Narayanghat Muglin Road

The 276 km stretch of road along the Corridor from Birgunj to Kathmandu, which forms part of the SAARC Regional Road Network (SAARC Road Corridor 2), is the most important trade route in Nepal for Nepalese and Indian international trade. Yet, sections of this road, including the 33km between Narayanghat (anptari) and Mugling and the 50km Birgunj-ICD-Pathlaiya-Ratomate- Hetauda bypass section, are too narrow to accommodate existing and projected traffic flows, and in the case of the Narayanghat-Mugling section, is in poor condition posing safety risks to users and local inhabitants. This road section also experiences the heaviest traffic load carrying 90 percent of Nepal's international trade traffic (about 6000 vehicles per day). Moreover, once construction of the ICPs is completed, more traffic is expected to pass through the Raxaul-Birgunj border post at a faster rate, causing even greater congestion than at present. The proposed Project will upgrade and expand the Narayanghat-Mugling road section to Asian Highway Standard and address road safety, axle load control and environmental sustainability issues along the trade Corridor. Since the improvement of border post infrastructure is expected to increase traffic along the entire Corridor from Birgunj to Kathmandu, the Project will also finance studies for the environmental sustainability and improvement of the Corridor.

Nepal government has the responsibility of improving the performance of road corridor from Birgunj to Kathmandu to improve the trade. The 276 Km stretch of road from Birgunj to Kathmandu is part of Asian Highway (AH-42) and is most important trade corridor in Nepal. The road transport between Kathmandu to Birgunj plays vital role in the both the trade and transit between Nepal and India, and also third countries. To enhance efficiency in the road transport, Nepal government intends to improve the road corridor from Birgunj to Kathmandu.

As a first step, improvement of road section from Narayanghat to Mugling has been considered under Nepal India Regional Trade and Transport Project (NIRTTP). Three Improvement work contracts ICB-1, ICB-2 and ICB-3 were procured on the basis of International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for Narayanghat - Mugling Road project.

The execution and completion of works was awarded to three JV Contractors. Consultancy service contract for providing construction supervision of the three contract packages was awarded to M/s Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Pvt. Ltd., India, in JV with M/s Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd. South Korea in association with M/s Full Bright Consultancy (Pvt.) Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal. The Contract Agreement was signed on 05 July 2015. Detailed design of improvement works of this road was completed by M/s MMM Group Ltd. Canada in JV with Sai Consulting Engineers (P) Ltd. India and ITECO Nepal (P) Ltd and Total Management Services, Nepal, under Road Sector Development Project (AF) Phase- II. Also, the construction supervision for first three months was carried out by the same consultant.