About Kathmandu-Kulekhani-Hetauda Tunnel (KKHT) Highway


The proposed KKHT Highway will serve as a shortest route of Kathmandu Valley and the Capital of the country on the much desired North-South Corridors to India and China as a Transit Hub, and links to the existing East-West Highway. Thus, it will be the Prosperity Corridor which will extend the entire west bound economic triangle in the country followed by southern and eastern parts of Nepal through Hetauda.

Designed focused for Cargo Transport enables KKHT Highway Project to address the conventional existing road length of Hetauda – Narayanghat – Mugling – Kathmandu of 227 km approx. or the Tribhuvan Highway of 133 km virtually down to 58 km. This would be a Turning Point for a high economic growth of the corridor and the country as it reduces the cost of the goods and services and saves huge fuel, vehicle wear & tear and time value as well. The existing hilarious ride of Small Passenger Vehicles in the existing Kathmandu – Kulekhani – Hetauda Road is also overcome by this Highway alternate.

In 2015, a model shift had to be taken from the original concept of design and finance by Nepalese only. Thus, the quest of developing KKHT Highway to an International Standard and attract FDI and competent International Investor continued. Accordingly, after 3 years of extensive efforts and related regular professional activities, NPBCL has achieved and has now the desired Project Technical Designs and FDI Partners which has been submitted to Government of Nepal through MoPIT. The present Geology facilitated design of KKHT Highway further brought down to 53 Km and with a Bridge Tunnel ratio of 44.4% is envisaged as to be another Turning Point in the construction of Highway in the mountain dominated terrain of our country. Various alternatives and approaches are still further being worked out to address various issues related to make the project bankable.

KKHT Highway


Other Description FBC Consultants, Nepal Powerchina, China
Length of the Highway 58 Km 53 Km
Estimated Cost in Million USD 396.6 – Dec.2012
506.4 – Jan 2015
976 – Jan 2018
(Construction with Operation & Maintenance cost)
Number of Tunnel and Length 3 Nos, 4.5 Km (longest 3.5 Km) 8 Nos, 8.8 Km (longest 4.4 Km)
Number of Bridge and Length 26 Nos, 1,790m 59 Nos, 15,010m
Start Point and End Point Balkhu, Kathmandu – Rapti Bridge, Hetauda EW Highway Chovar, Kathmandu – Rapti Bridge, Hetauda EW Highway
Developer NPBCL NPBCL-PC SPV JV
Consultant FBC PC
Project Status
  • DFSR completed 2012
  • EIA Final draft Report completed 2013
  • Reconnaissance of Adjacent Area Development Final Report 2013
  • DPR completed 2014
  • Cost revised on 2015
  • Post Earthquake Assessement Report 2015
  • EIA Final Draft Report complerted 2017
  • EPCF completed 2017
  • Design Review of FBC and Technical Proposal completed 2018
  • JDA completed 2018
  • Additional Option proposal 2019