Construction of Birgunj—Thori road section, a portion of the postal highway, is likely to commence soon, with the Postal Highway Directorate issuing a tender notice containing a May 31 deadline. Also known as Hulaki Rajmarga, the Postal 

Highway runs through Bhadrapur in the east to Dudhaura in the west. 

Anuthalal Patel head of postal highway project told the Post that the double lane highway will be asphalt concrete road. “This is currently one of the most reliable and latest technology used for road construction in the country,” Patel said, adding that due to the impressive pace of highway expansion over the past year, the road section will be constructed soon as well. 

Patel, however, did not disclose the estimated cost of the 60kilometre road section. A reliable source, however, informed the Post that it will cost Rs 2.75 billion to Rs 3 billion. The road section has 21 bridges. Of the total 21 bridges, 13 have already been constructed and completed. Likewise, two bridges are currently under construction and  construction work of three new bridges will commence soon after the conclusion of local elections scheduled for June 14. 

Touted as the ‘lifeline’ of Terai region, people living in the region have been demanding construction of the postal highway since time immemorial.

In the fiscal year 2015-16, Rs60 million earmarked for the project was frozen due to lack of progress in building the highway. Construction of the postal highway in Parsa had remained in limbo after the Indian construction company left the project around four years ago. The Indian company was supposed to complete the road project by September, 2013 based on the agreement with the government. 

Even though discourse regarding the development of postal highway that connects all 20 districts in the Tarai began in early 90s, it was only in 2004 that a breakthrough agreement was signed with India for conducting a study to upgrade roadways that link with the postal highway.  Postal highway stretches to 975 kilometer from east to west. An additional 817 kilometer roadway is to be constructed that will connect all the Terai districts as per the project goals.