The government has allocated Rs. 6.39 billion for the Postal Highway (Hulaki Rajmarga) in the budget of the coming fiscal year. Announcing the budget for the coming fiscal year through an ordinance today, Hon. Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel also announced that the construction of this highway will be completed within a year.

The postal road, which was started 30 years ago, is yet to be completed. Announced by the then visiting Indian Prime minister Chandra Shekhar in 2047 B.S., a formal agreement was only reached between the two countries for the construction of the postal highway in 2061 B.S.

The Postal Highway which touches 17 districts in the Terai is a 1792.25 km long highway. Its east-west section is 975 km long, while the ancillary section and roads connecting it with the Mahendra Highway are 817 km long. The Government of India is working on 10 of the 17 roads under the first phase of this highway, which is 218 km long.

Cover Photo: Centre for Social and Economic Progress