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The price of gold has increased by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 170, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 169, 800 per tola on Thursday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1, 970 per tola today.

The Department of Roads (DoR) has finalized the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the reconstruction of the BP highway section between Bhakunde Bensi and Nepalthok, which suffered extensive damage from floods and landslides last September

As per the DPR, the reconstruction of the 28-km stretch is estimated to cost Rs 9.66bn and is expected to take three years to complete. Meanwhile, the DoR plans to build necessary infrastructure on the damaged section so that the road is operable even during monsoon rains. 

The road section from Chowkidanada in Namo Buddha to Kaladhunga in Roshi Rural Municipality is among the worst damaged. With roads completely wiped away in different sections, the DoR has constructed diversions through the river to allow movement of vehicles. Since these diversions will be of no use during monsoon, the DoR is planning to build necessary infrastructure to make the road operable throughout the year.

The DPR prepared by the Division Road Office in Bhaktapur under the DoR states that three types of walls—RCC retaining, plum and gabion—will have to be built along the road section. Additionally, the 32-km road will be expanded to two lanes. DoR has also incorporated flood damage mitigation methods into the design.

The highway constructed with assistance from the government of Japan spans 160 km and connects Kathmandu to the central Tarai and Koshi Province. Since the highway had a width of more than one lane but less than two lanes, it was creating difficulty for two-way traffic. The DoR has now proposed widening the road to two lanes (nine meters wide) to facilitate smooth flow of traffic in both directions.

Since the highway runs alongside riverbanks, the reconstruction plan also includes scour depth protection measures to prevent river erosion beneath the road surface. This, however, is not the first time that the government considered upgrading the highway into two lanes. The government earlier conducted a study to upgrade the highway into two lanes and even sought the opinion of the Japanese government for the same. However,  the plan failed to take off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The highway project, which began in 1996 and was completed in 2015 with Japanese assistance totaling nearly Rs 20bn, is one of Nepal's most expensive infrastructure projects. The highway links Dhulikhel on the Araniko highway with Bardibas on the East-West highway.

Kamal Magar of Narayanatar, Kathmandu has become the third weekly winner of  the annual subscription campaign, “Jasle Padchha, Awasya Parchha” launched by Annapurna Media Network across the country.

In the weekly lucky draw held at the Tinkune-based headquarters of Annapurna Media Network on Thursday, Kamal Magar of Narayantar with receipt number 1468-81 became the winner.

Dr Manisha Ghimire, who is working at the OakMed Hospital in America, had picked Magar’s name from the lucky draw.

After being the winner, he won a Oppo mobile phone along with a voucher worth Rs 5, 000 for Tranquility Spa.

Readers renewing their subscription or becoming new annual subscribers to Annapurna Post and The Annapurna Express will receive guaranteed gifts upon subscribing.

The annual subscription fee for both newspapers is set at Rs 3,400 each.

Annual subscribers will receive a voucher worth Rs 1,500 for Wonderland, where they can enjoy thrilling games, as well as a movie voucher from INI Cinemas.

Alternatively, subscribers can opt for scratch cards offering cash discounts ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,400, along with INI Cinemas movie vouchers and tickets for Annapurna Cable Car.

The campaign also offers exciting weekly and monthly prizes. Weekly lucky draw winners will receive OPPO mobile phones and Rs 5,000 vouchers for Tranquility Spa.

Monthly winners will be rewarded with washing machines and Rs 5,000 Tranquility Spa vouchers. The campaign, which is valid nationwide, will run for four months.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 7. 26 points to close at 2, 678. 47 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 52 points to close at 449. 88 points.

A total of 15,875,152-unit shares of 302 companies were traded for Rs 7. 92 billion.

Meanwhile, Matribhumi Lagubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MATRI) and Kumari Sabal Yojana (KSY) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Nyadi Hydropower Limited (NYADI)​​​​​​​ was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 44 trillion.