Kathmandu, April 11 -- The government has taken a step forward towards widening the Prithvi Highway with the contracts already finalised for the development of two main sections of the road linking Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The government plans to widen the existing two-lane highway into four lanes. To that end, the Department of Roads has awarded the contract of widening the Anbu Khaireni-Jamune highway section to China Communications Construction Company. It has also picked Anhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Co Ltd, another Chinese firm, for the highway widening project from Jamune to Pokhara.

Prithvi Highway was built with Chinese assistance and was completed in 1974. Being one of the busiest highways in the country, it faces frequent tra...