Preparation of an Environmental Study Report for Rakhi Gajj – Bewata 33.84 Km Section of N-70 National Highway

The road section between Rakhi Gajj and Bewata (approximately 33 km long), an abrupt mountainous section of N 70, has been restricting safe and smooth traffic flow mainly due to hazardous condition in terms of rocks and debris falling or sliding from the coarse weathered mountain slopes. In such undulating section, traffic including heavily loaded trucks and buses had to tackle with narrow road width. As part of the development program, NHA, with the assistance of CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd (CTII), Japan planned for the improvement of the mountain route section to eliminate traffic bottlenecks to assure traffic safety and smooth traffic flow. This required widening of the existing road and re- alignment at several sections. In the early stages of the project, an EIA document was prepared and necessary approval from Environmental Agency was acquired, however, changes in the project planning required an update of environment study and evaluation of corresponding impacts.