Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga (Mid-Hill Highway)

The ongoing road project in Nepal, known as the Pushpalal Highway Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga or fast track, spans approximately 1,776 kilometers (1,104 mi), making it the longest national highway in the country upon completion. Nepal’s landscape comprises three main regions: the southern Terai plains, the northern Himalayan mountains, and the middle hilly region. This highway traverses through the mid-hills region exclusively, beginning from Chiyo Bhanjyang in Panchthar District (Koshi province) in the east and concluding at Jhulaghat in Baitadi District (Sudurpashchim Province) in the far west.

This new highway is set to link 24 hilly districts and 215 villages across the country. Starting from Panchthar and stretching to Baitadi, it will pass through picturesque regions like Terathum, Dhankuta, and many more. Pati Bhanjyang, nestled in Nuwakot, will serve as its central point, enhancing connectivity and accessibility for the communities along its route.

The government aims to establish 10 model cities along the mid-hill highway to address migration issues. These cities include Phidim, Basantapur, Khurkot, Baireni Galchhi, Dumre, Burtibang, Chaurjahari, Rakam, Sanfebagar, and Patan. The goal is to provide essential services like food, education, and healthcare, thereby curbing migration from hilly regions to the Terai.

Timeline about Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga

Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga to bypass Capital to ease congestion

The proposed Mid-Hill Highway aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Kathmandu and on the Prithvi Highway by circumventing the capital. Instead of the previous plan, which passed through Kavre and Kathmandu before reaching Pokhara, the new route will traverse a more northerly path via Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Lamjung to connect to Pokhara. There’s also a consideration to bypass Pokhara city by routing the highway along the northern side of Begnas Lake. Department of Roads officials are exploring these alternatives to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Five years ago, construction began on the Mid-Hill Highway, a major infrastructure project slated to stretch across the country from Chiyo Bhanjyang in Panchthar district to Jhulaghat in Baitadi district. The estimated cost of the project exceeds Rs 43 billion.

Recently, the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport approved a change in the highway’s alignment, particularly concerning its link to Pokhara. However, the government has yet to determine the exact length of the new route resulting from this change. This adjustment will lead the highway through three additional districts—Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, and Lamjung.

Originally conceived as a vital connection for hilly regions, the Mid-Hill Highway was designed to link 24 districts across 12 zones, serving nearly 7 million people. The completion of the original route is nearing its final stages, with only 3 kilometers remaining to be constructed in Jajarkot in the Western Section.