When massive floods in September last year washed away eight kilometres of the BP Highway, travelers heading east from Kathmandu for the Dashain, a major Hindu festival, were left stranded. The disaster came just days before the country’s biggest holiday, leaving thousands unable to reach their homes on time. Journeys that usually took a day stretched into two through difficult alternative routes, while many abandoned their Dashain travel plans.

Almost a year later, with Dashain approaching once more, travelers are asking the same question: will the BP Highway be safe and smooth this time, or will festival-goers again face delays and disappointment?

The BP Highway, constructed with the support of the Japanese government, was celebrated as a breakthrough in connecting the capital with the eastern districts. It shortened the distance between Kathmandu and districts such as Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Udayapur, and beyond, cutting travel time almost by half. Yet the road has always been vulnerable to harsh monsoon weather. Landslides and floods have repeatedly damaged it, often around the festive season when the number of vehicles swells dramatically. Normally, more than 3,000 vehicles ply the route each day, a figure that jumps to 8,000 to 10,000 during Dashain and Tihar festivals.

But permanent reconstruction or repair work after last year’s disaster has been quite slow. Of the 30.5 kilometres heavily damaged by the floods, contracts have been signed for 25 kilometres, while work on the remaining stretch has yet to be awarded. Officials admit that budget constraints and lengthy procurement processes delayed the construction work. For now, travelers must rely on temporary maintenance.

Still, Bhaktapur Road Division chief Suman Yogesh insists that people will not face major hurdles this Dashain, which falls in October first week this year. “So far there are no significant problems. Small landslides and floods will not stop vehicular movement. Contractors are mobilised with machinery to clear obstructions immediately,” he said, adding that pothole repairs and other surface improvements would be completed before the festival to ease traffic flow.

Authorities have imposed seasonal restrictions to run vehicles during night to reduce risks. Since July 17, passenger and private vehicles have been banned on the highway from 5 pm to 5 am due to landslide dangers, a measure expected to last until September 16. The Department of Roads hopes that by then the weather will improve, making travel safer during the festival rush.

A two-lane road is set to be built along the 30.5-kilometre stretch from Bhakundebesi to Nepalthok that was badly damaged by the floods. So far, three contract packages have been finalised—two on the Kavrepalanchok side and one on the Sindhuli side.

The 11-km Bhakundebesi-Charsayabesi stretch has been contracted to Lama-Nava Kantipur JV for Rs1.14 billion (excluding VAT), while the Charsayabesi-Dalabesi 9-km stretch has been awarded to Khani-Kamaljit-A1 JV for Rs 1.22 billion (excluding VAT). Both projects, signed in June, are to be completed within two years.

Another 3.2-km section between Piple and Barkhe Khola will be built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under a Rs2.63 billion grant. The survey and design have been finalised, but the contract will only be signed after Dashain. Despite the delay, the Department of Roads says the JICA-funded section will be made motorable by July 2027.

On the Sindhuli side, the five-kilometre Barkhe Khola-Nepalthok stretch has been contracted to Kharidhunga-Ghising-Kshitiz JV for Rs550 million. According to Chief Parasmani Hamal, chief of the Road Division Office in Sindhuli, the company has already mobilised machinery at the site. “Unless there is a major disaster, this section will remain open during Dashain,” he said.

In all contracted sections, the construction companies are obliged to repair and reopen the road immediately in case of blockages. Engineers and sub-engineers have been deployed along vulnerable stretches for rapid response.

The government has allocated Rs7.5 billion to the Bhaktapur division and Rs1 billion to the Khurkot section for permanent construction and maintenance. Once completed, the damaged sections will be upgraded from intermediate lanes to two-lane roads, strengthening the highway against future disasters. Officials say the investments will make travel more reliable in the long run, though for now much depends on the weather and the ability of contractors to keep the road open.

Despite assurances, many remain skeptical. Last year, thousands had to abandon long-awaited family reunions because the road could not be restored in time. Transport operators argue that while temporary fixes may get vehicles moving during one festival, only permanent infrastructure upgrades will ensure long-term safety.

The 160 km-long BP Highway passes through the Mahabharat range in Sindhuli while connecting Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchok district to Bardibas in Mahottari. The highway has become the third major highway after the Prithvi Highway and Araniko Highway linking the Kathmandu Valley to other parts of the country. The BP Highway took 20 years to complete with the final section of the road completed in 2015 at the cost Rs21.28 billion.