Groundbreaking Ceremony for Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road Affected by Floods (May 25, 2026)

JEINF No. 13-2026  

The groundbreaking ceremony for the "Emergency Rehabilitation of Sindhuli Road Affected by Floods" was held today, marking the official commencement of construction work. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary of Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and His Excellency Mr. MAEDA Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal. The rehabilitation work will be carried out by Shimizu Corporation, one of Japan's leading construction companies.
 
The Sindhuli Road is 160km long and links the mid and eastern Terai with the capital city of Kathmandu. Its construction had been supported by Japanese grant assistance (25.8 billion yen) from 1995 to 2015, and the road has greatly contributed to the economic growth of Nepal.
 
Unfortunately, the road was seriously damaged by floods caused by continuous heavy rains in September 2024. More than 10km of the road was washed away, severely impacting the local economy and people's lives, as well as Nepal's broader economy, including trade and transportation.
 
The Government of Japan extended grant assistance of 2.8 billion yen in response to the request of the Government of Nepal, and today's groundbreaking marks the official start of the restoration work.
 
This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal, and the Embassy of Japan believes that this project will be instrumental for Nepal in achieving sustainable economic development and further deepening the enduring friendship between the two countries.