Infrastructure (Roads)

TRANSPORTATION

Nepal is linked by a system of roads totalling some 10,000 kilometres in length. Some of the major roads are in good condition but others are barely passable. During the monsoon season, many roads are damaged by flooding. The port of Calcutta is about 1150 kilometres from the Nepalese border and is connected to Kathmandu by hard surface road. The average transit time from Kathmandu to the port ranges from three to six days. Future plans call for construction of a container "Dry Port" at Birgunj which will be linked directly to the Indian rail system.

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Nepal being landlocked, considerable attention is paid to the development of air transportation to support the growth of trade and the fast expanding tourist industry. Nepal is served by one international airport in Kathmandu, the capital, and is connected by regular air services to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Dubai, Karachi, New Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Varanasi, Dhaka, Rangoon, Bangkok, Singapore, Osaka, Lhasa, Thimpu and Hongkong.

The Royal Nepal Airlines operates international flights using Boeing 757 and Boeing 727 aircrafts. The national carrier is preparing to spread its wings to new overseas destinations like Beijing and Rome in the near future. Other airlines operating through Kathmandu are Aeroflot, Biman Bangladesh, China South West Airlines, Dragon Air, Druk Air, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai International Airways. Due to the landlocked nature, cargo services are operated by some airlines to meet the growing demand for air freight.

The hilly and inaccessible areas and the Terai region are linked by domestic air services operated by Royal Nepal Airlines (domestic) and other private airlines in 44 districts of the Kingdom. Recently, Nepal has adopted an open-sky policy allowing private airlines to step in the domestic air service front. Emphasis is given to strengthen these services to promote balanced development in trade, commerce and tourism.

ROAD TRANSPORTATION

Development and expansion of transport facility is the most important pre-requisite for the development of a remote and village dominated country like Nepal. The country is linked North South and East-West by a system of roads with a total length of 13223 km., of which 4073 km. is black topped, 3476 km graveled and 4740 km fair weather roads. The major highways are the Mahendra Rajmarg (East-West highway), the Tribhuvan Rajpath (Kathmandu-Birgunj), the Prithivi Rajmarg (Kathmandu-Pokhara), the Siddhartha Rajmarg (Sunauli-Pokhara) and the Arniko Rajmarg (Kathmandu-Kodari). Other roads such as Banepa - Sindhuli - Bardibas, Mahakali Highway, Basantapur - Terathum, Katari- Okhaldhunga, Gaighat-Diktel, Salyan-Musikot, Surkhet-Jumla roads are under construction.