Uttarakhand CM Reviews Border Road to Nepal Project Cost Rises to Rs 250 Cr
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday reviewed the progress of the four-lane Indo-Nepal border road project at Banbasa, calling it a strategic and commercial priority for the region.
The road, which stretches 3.06 km towards the Nepali dry port, is expected to significantly enhance border connectivity and cross-border trade. The project, under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), began in March 2023 with an original deadline set for 2024. However, natural disasters such as floods have caused delays, pushing the expected completion to 2027.
Speaking at the site, Dhami stressed the road’s importance from both defence and economic standpoints, adding, “This road to be built from Banbasa to the Nepal border is very important from a strategic, business, and defense perspective.” The infrastructure work includes a flyover, a major bridge, and two smaller bridges. So far, 7.28 hectares of land have been handed over to NHAI. Initially approved with a budget of ₹177 crore, unforeseen geographical and technical challenges have led to an escalation of ₹80 crore, raising the total estimated cost to ₹250 crore.
Dhami directed officials to expedite construction while maintaining quality and transparency. He reiterated the project’s role in strengthening India-Nepal border infrastructure, easing movement of goods, and bolstering regional trade potential.
