KATHMANDU, June 17 - China has agreed, in principle, to provide assistance for the construction of nine flyovers on the Ring Road and will take up construction of three flyovers in the first phase.

The flyovers will be built at Koteshwor, the airport, Gausala, Chabahil, Gongabu, Balaju, Jawalakhel, Kalanki and Maharajgunj.

The first-phase construction will begin at Koteshwor, Kalanki and Maharajgunj, according to an official at the Ministry of Finance.

The government has sent a formal request to the Chinese and is awaiting a reply.

The Chinese government had accepted Nepal's request for funding for the construction of flyovers under the Kathmandu Valley Road Improvement Project during the last Nepal-China Inter-governmental Meeting held in July 2007.

As per the preliminary understanding reached on the project, the Chinese government will extend both financial and technical assistance for the construction.

"Along with the construction of flyovers, the project will also increase the width of the Ring Road and construct

sidewalks" the source said.

Once the government receives the acceptance letter -- which is a foregone conclusion -- the Nepali side will prepare detailed reports for the project and forward them to the Chinese side.

The design and cost of the project will be known only after the detailed report is prepared.

China has already committed an annual assistance of 100 million RMB (about Rs 1 billion) to fund mutually agreed projects.

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