November 3: Most of the roads that had been damaged by floods and landslides during the monsoon season this year have been either fully or partially repaired and brought into operation. Some of them have been opened for one-way traffic.

According to the Department of Roads (DoR), altogether 253 sections of roads and highways were damaged by floods and landslides this year. Among them, 139 sections have been fully repaired while the remaining 112 areas have been partially reopened.

Meanwhile, two areas along the Sanfebagar-Martadi road section that was damaged on August 10 have not become operational yet. The Department of Roads informed that this road section sustained major damage in the current fiscal year.

The Arniko Highway, which was worst affected by floods and landslides this year, has become partially operational with one-way traffic in some areas. More than 25 areas along the highway have been partially opened.

According to the initial estimates of DoR, it will cost more than Rs 3 billion to fully repair the roads and bridges damaged by floods and landslides. Arniko Highway alone will require Rs 1.5 billion for repair works, informed Shiva Hari Sapkota, spokesperson of the department.

The Beni-Jomsom road also sustained major damages due to flood this year.

According to the department, floods swept away large chunks of road as well as Bailey bridges and under-construction bridges during monsoon.

Many areas of Siddhartha Highway, Pritivi Highway, BP Highway, Kanti Highway, Koshi Highway, Trishuli-Syafrubesi road section among others are still operating with one-way traffic.

The department has requested for budget from the Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport in order to repair the roads.

Although roads get damaged by floods and landslides every year, the government does not allocate budget specifically for this purpose. The budget for the repair works of roads is released from the additional expenses of the government.

Infrastructure experts point out the need to identify the vulnerable spots and repair them during winter to minimize damages during the monsoon season.