Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the site of the ongoing four-lane road project leading to the Nepali dry port along the India-Nepal border at Banbasa on Sunday.
During his visit, the Chief Minister checked the progress of the construction and provided necessary instructions to ensure the quality of work and adherence to the project’s timeline.
In a statement, Dhami emphasized the significance of this road, stating, "This road to be built from Banbasa to the Nepal border is very important from a strategic, business, and defense perspective. Its construction work is being carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)."
The project, which involves the construction of a 3.06 km long road, has already seen 7.28 hectares of land being transferred to NHAI. The initial approval for the project was granted at Rs 177 crore, but due to geographical and technical challenges, the estimated cost is expected to increase by Rs 80 crore, potentially bringing the total budget to Rs 250 crore. The work, which began in March 2023, was initially scheduled to be completed by 2024, but due to natural disasters, including floods, it is now expected to be finished by 2027.
The project includes the construction of a flyover, a major bridge, and two smaller bridges. Dhami further noted that this road would enhance international trade and movement in the India-Nepal border region. He directed the officials to ensure that the construction proceeds swiftly and meets the required standards of transparency and quality.