Prithvi Highway expansion: Western section lags behind with only 30% progress

Pokhara, September 26 — "It used to take us three hours to get from Pokhara to Mugling, but now it takes over five hours," says Kaji Shrestha, a bus driver on the Pokhara-Kathmandu route. "We had heard that the Chinese company would work quickly, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. We are surprised at the delays."

Due to the prolonged construction, potholes have caused frequent breakdowns of his vehicle. He often has to deal with angry passengers when the bus stops unexpectedly due to mechanical issues. "It's not like before when we could drive smoothly," he adds. "Passengers complain about how late we are."

The upgrade of the Pokhara-Mugling road is underway with the support of the Asian Development Bank. The project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing construction has caused significant difficulties for drivers, passengers, and local residents and businesses along the road. They are urging authorities to fill potholes and make the road more navigable in the meantime.

Transportation entrepreneurs suffer  
Ghanshyam Shrestha, who operates a furniture and electric vehicle charging station in Dumre, has seen his business come to a near standstill in recent months. Currently, the staircase leading to his shop has not been constructed, which has negatively impacted his trade. "The market that was once bustling is now deserted," says Shrestha. "Business has dropped by 75% compared to before. There was no business during the Teej festival either. Some have even closed their shops completely. If this situation continues, we will have to relocate."

Before the pandemic and the ongoing road expansion work, Dumre was a vibrant market. The pandemic severely affected business, and the damage caused by the roadwork has compounded these challenges.

In Tanahun, business has suffered more than 25% due to the expansion of the Prithvi Highway, according to Baikuntha Mishra, head of the Tanahun Chamber of Commerce. "While there are no official statistics, it's clear that business has stagnated during the road expansion," Mishra states. "Factors like dust and smoke have contributed to the decline in trade. The damage to health is impossible to quantify. The tourism sector and hotels have been especially hard hit."

Local business owners had requested the construction teams to complete the market area before the festivals. However, the construction company has begun demolishing and excavating in the market right before the holidays. "We've asked them to work quickly, but who is listening to us?" Mishra laments.

According to Mishra, not many businesses need to relocate due to the road expansion. "With a few exceptions, there’s no need for businesses to be displaced because of the road. Those who had to move got good compensation and left. After the road expansion, Dumre will be much more organized," he explains. "However, the prolonged halt in business due to the roadwork is causing significant difficulties for traders."

Headaches for the local governments

The local levels are also making significant efforts to expedite the road construction. Six municipalities are involved in this road segment. However, the lack of coordination among government agencies initially caused delays in the expansion work. Mayor Dhanraj Acharya of Pokhara explains that issues arose primarily because agencies responsible for electricity, drinking water, and telecommunications did not facilitate the process. He notes, however, that there has been better coordination recently.

"Earlier, there was no coordination regarding the removal of electricity poles or the pipes for drinking water and irrigation," says Mayor Acharya. "Now, all stakeholders are coming together. We are solving problems by convening all parties every 15 days."

According to him, the underground wiring from Kundahar to Seti Bridge has been completed, and the obstacles in the construction of Seti Bridge have also been resolved. "There were issues with five houses at Seti Bridge, but those have been addressed. Work will now begin on the northern side," Acharya adds. "The construction company has committed to filling all potholes from Kotre in Tanahun to Pokhara before Dashain. They also plan to re-pave the road from the airport to Seti Bridge. The pace of work is currently swift."

The construction company has pledged to complete the Pokhara-Mugling road expansion by December 2025. They acknowledge that various issues, including obstacles from property owners, have caused delays. They also express frustration over the state's late payments affecting the speed of work, but they state that this issue has now been resolved.

Satisfactory progress on the eastern section

In the eastern section from Aanbukhaireni to Jamune (41 kilometers), there has been 67% physical progress. The construction company reports that four lanes have been paved over 29 kilometers, and two lanes have been completed over 5 kilometers.

Additionally, 14 small bridges have been constructed in this section, along with two large bridges. "The bridges over Buldi and Khani Khola are finished. One lane in Dumre is complete, and work on the other lane has started," says Bishnu Pandey, an engineer for the eastern section.

This section has been contracted to China Communication Construction Company for a total of 6.21 billion Nepali Rupees. The project, which was supposed to be completed by last April-May, has been granted a 155-day extension due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although significant work remains in the areas of Damauli, Dumre, Chhirkan, and Bimalnagar, much of the road paving is nearly complete elsewhere. Pandey mentions that work in Damauli will begin next week, and the project in Dumre is expected to be completed by February, 2025.

He also notes that the design for Bimalnagar has been changed due to concerns about potential damage from landslides. "Initially, the design included cutting through the hill, but it was found that this could cause significant damage. Now, we are planning to build retaining walls from below. This design will likely be approved," he explains.

Work on cutting through the hills at Chhirkan is still pending, but the construction team claims it will be completed within a month. With the end of the monsoon season, the pace of work is expected to increase. "The greatest challenge is the risk of landslides on the hills. Ultimately, we will be investing billions in a single hillside. We don’t have that situation here; we are doing all the work under one design. It's mainly about supporting a general structure. We expect a higher risk of landslides for the next one or two years," he adds.

Delays in the western section

The contract for the western section (39 kilometers from Jamune to Pokhara) has been awarded to China’s Yanhui Kaiyun Highway and Bridge Company. The project was expected to be completed by 28th August for a total of 7.4 billion Nepali Rupees, but due to delays, a 100-day extension has been granted.

Despite both sections starting around the same time, significant delays are evident in the western section compared to the eastern one.

According to engineer Narayan Poudel from western section of the highway, only 30% progress has been made in the western section so far. Paving has been completed on four kilometers in both directions and on two lanes over 17 kilometers. Poudel mentions that there are no major issues with the road expansion, and work will proceed at an accelerated pace now.

"The problems with electricity poles and drinking water have been resolved, and the relevant teams are also working. We have prioritized areas where work has already been done," he explains. "Currently, there aren't any significant problems. Work is progressing smoothly, and with the end of the monsoon, the pace will increase."

The western section includes eight small bridges and four large ones. Work has yet to begin on the large bridge at Bijaypur. At Kotre, all work is complete except for laying slabs. The bridge over Kumle Khola is in its final stages, while all work on the Myagde Khola except 'approach' is finished.

All small bridges have been constructed except for one, according to the project team. Engineer Poudel mentioned that they are currently focusing on making the road more accessible ahead of the upcoming festivals. "As the festivals approach, we are working to fill potholes alongside other tasks," he said. "We aim to make travel easier for passengers." The work of cutting through hills and clearing trees for the road expansion has been completed. Poudel noted that the financial progress stands at 37% so far.

Signature bridges over Madi and Seti

The construction of the bridges in Madi and Seti is being handled under separate contracts. In Madi, 37% of the work has been completed. This bridge is being developed as a signature bridge at a cost of 1.2 billion Nepali Rupees. The Seti bridge is also under construction, with Rasuwa Construction Pvt. Ltd. contracted to complete it by 6th September, at a cost of 1.07 billion Nepali Rupees. Two additional bridges will be built on either side of the current bridge.

Completion before Dashain

The eastern section is progressing more quickly compared to the western section. There are no significant obstacles in the eastern section. As Dashain approaches, the construction company is hastily repairing any potential trouble spots on the road to ensure smooth travel.

Smooth travel before Dashain

"We will ensure a road is ready for smooth travel by Dashain. There shouldn’t be any significant obstacles," says engineer Bishnu Pandey. "However, it’s important to understand that the signage is not yet prepared. This is an under-construction road, so speeding is not advisable, and the risk of accidents is high."

He recommends not exceeding a speed of 50 kilometers per hour.

Chief Minister's directive on filling potholes

After the work was not completed on time, Gandaki's Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey recently summoned the construction company and directed them to ensure easy travel on the road, especially with the upcoming festivals.

During a meeting led by CM Pandey, several decisions were made regarding the road construction—electricity technicians will relocate utility poles to avoid obstructing the work; due to increased traffic from festivals and tourists, potholes in the western section caused by the rains will be filled; the underground installation of electric wires from Pokhara Airport to Seti Bridge will be completed soon; and the work on constructing two-lane roads will also be finished promptly.