Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak and Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae on Thursday jointly inaugurated the postal highway amid strong protests in Dhangadi, the headquarters of Kailali district.

Six persons have been arrested for protesting during the inauguration ceremony, ward police chief Bajir Singh Dhami said.

The highway was inaugurated despite incompletion of 18-km road section of the 62-kilometer highway. There are also six bridges yet to be constructed.

The incomplete 18-kilometer road section runs through the Basanta forest area in Kailali and construction of road through the forest area has been strongly opposed by rights activists and conservationists.

The postal highway was to be completed within three years after starting the construction in 2068 BS but majority of the road section is still undone.

Minister Lekhak, speaking in the inauguration, said the highway will benefit the Tarai districts in the country's far-western region. Minister Lekhak said the bidding process for the 18-kilometer section was complete and the differences with activists and conservationists will also be settled.