Koshi Highway or NH08 (previously: H08) (Nepali: कोशी राजमार्ग) is a 390 km long highway located in Koshi Province. It is a north-south highway which is understood to be the shortest highway connecting India to China across the Himalayan mountains in Nepal.[1][2] Rani at Biratnagar is the starting point of the road[3] which is connected to Jogbani in India and Kimathanka is the end point of the Koshi Highway, which is connected to Chinese town Chentang.[3]
With the exception of 14 km of the track (Chyamptang-Ghongghoppa section of the road), the highway track had been open to traffic in 2021. The work was awarded to Nepal Army to open the remaining track. On 27 January 2025 the remaining track (Chyamptang-Ghongghoppa section of the road) was completed by the Nepal Army and the road from Indian border Jogbani to Chinese border Chentang is completely connected though road is not yet operational, as bridges on the rivers are not completed.[4] though southern section of the Koshi Highway is not blacktopped yet.
Koshi is one of the major highways of Nepal.[5]
Sections
- Rani-Dharan Section : Rani near Indo-Nepal border to Dharan is a 49 Km route which is being upgraded into 6 lanes. 42.5 km out of the 49-kilometer has made significant progress. The construction on a five-kilometer stretch of the six-lane road in Dharan, however, is still remaining.[6]
- Dharan-Dhankuta Section : Dharan - Dhankuta section is a two lane 75 km of road located on hills made in hairpin style. The road was started to be built in the 1970s with a grant provided by the United Kingdom. It was constructed by the Italian consultants' team and the road was finally completed in 1982. [7] [8]
- Dhankuta-Khandbari Section : Dhankuta-Khandbari section is divided into two parts. The first part is 18 km from Dhankuta to Hile. Hile is a hilltown where the Koshi Highway meets with National Highway 03 (Pushpalal Highway) and terminates. The second part starts at Leguwa extracting from NH-03 and runs continuously north to Khandbari which is 50 km at distance so the total distance of Dhankuta-Khandbari section is 68 km. The section is two-lane and paved (asphalt). The road from Hile to Leguwa (26 km) is a part of NH-03.
- Khandbari-Kimathanka Section : Khandbari-Kimathanka section : According to the North-South Koshi Road Project office the length between Khandbari to Kimathanka is 158 KM [4] The track on this part of the highway has recently opened so the road is not paved yet.
See also
References
- ^ "Khandbari-Kimathanka road: NA airlifts heavy duty vehicles to project site". www.kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Kantipur Media Group. 7 Dec 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Biratnagar-Kimathanka trilateral road project's disheartening progress". www.thehimalayantimes.com. 10 Jan 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Biratnagar-Kimathanka trilateral road project's disheartening progress". www.article.wn.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Khandbari-Kimathanka Road achieves breakthrough". The Kathmandu Post. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "Construction of Koshi Corridor Moves Ahead". New Business Age. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Rani-Dharan six-lane road nearing completion". Himal Press. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "The road from Dharan to Dhankuta". Dharan Dhankuta Road Project. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "Dharan Dhankuta Road Project". Infrastructure Diplomacy Nepal. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
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