KATHMANDU: The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal) has signed two contracts totaling around USD 23.7 million for the implementation of two road infrastructure projects.

According to a press release issued by MCA-Nepal today, a contract valued at around USD 20 million was awarded to the Sharma–Kumar Joint Venture for the upgrading of the Dhan Khola–Lamahi section of the East–West Highway under the MCC Nepal Compact road maintenance program.

In addition, MCA-Nepal has recently entered into a separate agreement worth about USD 3.66 million with the International Consultants and Technocrats Pvt Ltd for supervising the upgrading works on the same road section and for conducting periodic maintenance of the Narayanghat–Muglin highway, the release added.

As part of the projects, a 40-kilometre stretch of the East–West Highway between Dhan Khola and Lamahi will be upgraded and expanded to a width of 12 metres, while the Narayanghat–Muglin road section will undergo periodic maintenance.

The contract for the Dhan Khola–Lamahi road upgrade was formally signed at a program held today by MCA-Nepal Executive Director Khadga Bahadur Bista and Saurabh Sharma, the authorised representative of the Sharma–Kumar Joint Venture.