Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has requested with the Japanese government for the reconstruction of the BP Highway, many sections of which were damaged by the recent floods and landslides.

The highway, which is the shortest route to connect some Tarai districts and eastern part of the country with the capital city Kathmandu, was built by the government of Japan.

Prime Minister Oli made the request during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Kikuta Yutaka on Wednesday, according to two officials present at the meeting.

“The recent floods and landslides have badly damaged the BP Highway and it would take a huge amount of money and technical resources to rebuild it,” Oli told ambassador Kikuta, according to the officials. “So we want Japanese support once again.”

An official said that Nepal drew the attention of the Japanese side and that now it is up to them to respond. “Though we have already carried out the relief work, opening of the track among other technical works remains,” the official said.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed repairing the BP Highway, some sections of which are badly damaged by the recent floods and landslides, a statement issued by the prime minister’s private secretariat said. “Possible Japanese support to rebuild the highway was also discussed,” it stated.

Besides Prime Minister Oli, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Keshav Kumar Sharma, and joint secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Krishna Prasad Dhakal, among other officials, were present at the meeting.

The recent floods and landslides have completely damaged over 12 kilometres of the highway. As the vehicular movement on the shortest route to reach the eastern part of the country including some Tarai districts was halted due to the floods and landslides just ahead of Dashain festival, the government opened a temporary track to resume the highway only for light vehicles.

Since reconstruction work is underway, the local Kavrepalanchok district administration has stopped vehicles plying during night time from Wednesday.

In the meeting with the Japanese ambassador, Oli described the situation across the BP Highway and steps taken by the government, officials said. Oli added that the government is expecting technical and financial support from the Japanese government.

According to the government assessment, it might need Rs20–25 billion for rebuilding the highway.

During the time of the earthquake in 2015, some parts of the highway were damaged and the government of Japan had extended the financial and technical support, Oli told the ambassador. “Now we need a similar kind of support from the Japanese side,” Oli added.

The Japanese ambassador, while expressing grief over recent damage caused by the floods and landslides, stated that he will communicate the matter to Tokyo.

His response was diplomatic to the prime minister’s request, according to the officials who attended the meeting.

A formal request will also be sent to the government of Japan seeking its support for rebuilding the highway, the officials said.