Kavre, May 18 -- Major highways in Nepal are usually blocked during floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rain. But even moderate rainfall has become enough to halt traffic in the Kavre section along the BP Highway. Rains in upper areas around Phulchoki, Panauti, Banepa and Dhulikhel often swells the Roshi river within hours, sweeping away temporary diversions built on the riverbed and cutting off one of the country's most important road links.

The repeated disruption has deepened public frustration and raised questions about whether reconstruction work on the damaged sections can be completed on time. Contractors, commuters, locals and transportation workers complain millions of rupees have already been washed away rebuilding...