{"id":2004,"date":"2026-11-01T08:13:08","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T08:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/?p=2004"},"modified":"2026-11-01T08:13:08","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T08:13:08","slug":"koshi-river-bridge-proposed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/","title":{"rendered":"Koshi River Bridge: 2.86 km Plan to Cut 14 km Off the East-West Highway, a Big Boost"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A new <strong>Koshi River bridge<\/strong> 2.86 kilometres long has been proposed as an alternative to the ageing Koshi Barrage crossing, and officials say the plan would shorten the East-West Highway by about 14 kilometres. Meroauto reported on November 1, 2026 that the project is moving again after months of delay, though funding and environmental clearance are still not settled.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#What_happened\" >What happened<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#Key_details_of_the_Koshi_River_bridge_plan\" >Key details of the Koshi River bridge plan<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#Why_it_matters_for_homeowners_in_Nepal\" >Why it matters for homeowners in Nepal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#What_to_do_next\" >What to do next<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#Where_will_the_new_Koshi_River_bridge_be_built\" >Where will the new Koshi River bridge be built?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#How_much_will_it_cost\" >How much will it cost?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#Why_has_the_project_been_delayed\" >Why has the project been delayed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/eve-construction.com\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/koshi-river-bridge-proposed\/#Has_construction_started\" >Has construction started?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened\"><\/span>What happened<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The proposed bridge would link Sunsari and Saptari districts about 10 kilometres north of the existing Koshi Barrage. It is part of a planned 46-kilometre four-lane road from Rajabas in Sunsari to Kanchanpur in Saptari, made up of 43.2 kilometres of road and the 2.86-kilometre bridge. The section is part of the government&#8217;s wider plan to widen the East-West Highway to four lanes.<\/p>\n<p>The project had stalled because the alignment passes through the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, and the Ministry of Forests had not given permission to proceed with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). According to the report, the process is expected to move forward following interest from Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_details_of_the_Koshi_River_bridge_plan\"><\/span>Key details of the Koshi River bridge plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Length:<\/strong> 2.86 km bridge plus 43.2 km of four-lane road, 46 km in total.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Route saving:<\/strong> about 14 km shorter than the current East-West Highway alignment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Old crossing:<\/strong> the Koshi Barrage was completed in 1962, began operating in 1965 and was designed for a 50-year life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> earlier estimated at around Rs 43 billion, now Rs 50 billion to Rs 55 billion, according to Chudaraj Dhakal, director of the Department of Roads&#8217; Project Directorate (ADB).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Funding:<\/strong> the Asian Development Bank had shown interest earlier; officials are now looking at foreign partners, the government and the private sector, possibly under a Hybrid Annuity Model.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Next step:<\/strong> talks with the Ministry of Forests and the wildlife reserve to restart the EIA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_it_matters_for_homeowners_in_Nepal\"><\/span>Why it matters for homeowners in Nepal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The East-West Highway is the main supply line for cement, steel rods, bricks and other materials moving across the Terai. A shorter, four-lane route with a modern bridge can cut travel time for trucks, and lower transport time usually helps keep delivered material prices steadier in the eastern districts. It also means less dependence on a 60-year-old structure that is past its design life.<\/p>\n<p>For families building in Sunsari, Saptari, Morang or nearby districts, better connectivity can raise land values along the new alignment over time. But this is still a proposal. Rising cost estimates, an unfinished EIA and no confirmed funding all mean the bridge is likely years away. Plans and prices you make today should be based on the roads that exist now.<\/p>\n<p>The project also shows how large works in Nepal increasingly need to balance construction with nature. The Asian Development Bank recently backed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adb.org\/news\/adb-approves-305-75-million-financing-upgrade-strategic-highways-strengthen-wildlife-conservation-nepal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highway upgrades with wildlife corridors<\/a> elsewhere on the same highway, and a similar approach may be needed through Koshi Tappu.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_next\"><\/span>What to do next<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Don&#8217;t buy land near the proposed alignment on the promise of the bridge alone; check that the route is final and funded.<\/li>\n<li>Budget for current transport costs when ordering materials in the eastern Terai.<\/li>\n<li>Estimate your total build cost early with our <a href=\"\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/house-construction-cost-calculator-nepal\/\">house construction cost calculator<\/a>, and see our other <a href=\"\/%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80\/calculator\/\">construction calculators<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Follow updates from the <a href=\"https:\/\/dor.gov.np\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Roads<\/a> for EIA and tender news.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_will_the_new_Koshi_River_bridge_be_built\"><\/span>Where will the new Koshi River bridge be built?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>About 10 km north of the Koshi Barrage, connecting Sunsari and Saptari districts.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_will_it_cost\"><\/span>How much will it cost?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The current estimate is Rs 50 billion to Rs 55 billion for the road and bridge, up from about Rs 43 billion.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_has_the_project_been_delayed\"><\/span>Why has the project been delayed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The route passes through the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, and permission for the Environmental Impact Assessment had not been granted.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Has_construction_started\"><\/span>Has construction started?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. The EIA and funding are still being discussed.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.en.meroauto.com\/new-2-86-km-bridge-proposed-near-koshi-barrage-cutting-highway-by-14-km\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Meroauto, November 1, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new Koshi River bridge 2.86 kilometres long has been proposed as an alternative to the ageing Koshi Barrage crossing, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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