Nepal Transport Commitments 2026

East-West Highway 4-Lane Expansion

1,028 km highway from Kakarbhitta to Kanchanpur. Multiple sections under work: Kamala-Kanchanpur (Siraha/Saptari) at 67% but behind deadline; Narayanghat-Butwal 6-lane upgrade at 42% by Chinese contractor; Kakarbhitta-Laukahi 120 km with ADB $300M loan tendered; Koshi Province upgrade to Asian Highway standards underway. No work started in Sudurpashchim Province. Electricity pole relocation, land acquisition delays across sections.

Operationalize Bhairahawa & Pokhara Airports

Both airports built but struggling with international operations. Bhairahawa: 729 total international flights since May 2022 opening. Peaked Jan-Mar 2025 (299 flights, 15,148 passengers) when TIA was under maintenance. Went 5 months without international flights (Apr-Aug 2025). Thai AirAsia resumed 2x/week. Capacity: 50 intl flights/day, 3M passengers/year — vastly underutilized. Pokhara: No regular international flights. Only 1 weekly Lhasa charter (Chinese-funded). 3 domestic airlines serve 10 domestic routes. Feb 2026 revival plan under discussion.

Pokhara & Bhairahawa Airports Full Operation

Both airports built but far from full operation. Bhairahawa: 729 total intl flights since May 2022 but highly irregular. 5-month suspension Apr-Aug 2025. Thai AirAsia resumed 2x/week. Capacity 50 intl flights/day but <2 actually operating. Migration services not decentralized — passengers must complete processes in Kathmandu. Feb 2026 revival plan announced. Pokhara: zero regular intl flights. Only 1 weekly Lhasa charter. NYT raised construction quality concerns Oct 2023. Air Astra (Bangladesh) planned 4x/week but not started. Gov discussing sustainable action plan.

East-West Electric Railway

945 km Kakarbhitta-Kanchanpur railway. DPRs completed for Bardibas-Simara (108 km), Simara-Tansariya (127 km), Tansariya-Butwal (64 km). Only physical work: Bardibas-Nijgadh 70 km section with ~50 km track bedding done. Rs 11.22B spent total, Rs 4B/year allocation. 2025 development: government considering rerouting entire line along East-West Highway to avoid land compensation — would require new DPR and abandon 15+ years of planning. National pride project with 5% progress since 2008. Est. cost $3B.