Paving Progress Intensifies on Key Section of Prithvi Highway

Chitwan. The expansion and upgrading work on the Nagdhunga–Malekhu section of the Prithvi Highway has gained momentum. So far, the paving work for 11 kilometers of this section has been completed. While eight kilometers were paved last year, an additional three kilometers have been finished this year.

Paving has now been completed in some areas of Kurintar, Phisling, Charoudi, and Bishaltar, while work is vigorously underway in the Bandare area of Dhading. According to Vijay Darai, Engineer at the Nagdhunga–Mugling Road Project (West Section), the physical progress of the project has reached 40 percent to date.

Although the contract was awarded in Poush 15, 2079 BS with a three-year completion deadline, the work was not finished on time, resulting in a six-month extension. Currently, nearly two hundred workers, staff, and technicians are engaged in the paving work.

The work of laying the base and sub-base for paving in the Phisling and Jawang Khola areas has reached the final stage. Despite the acceleration of construction work, material shortages are posing a challenge.

Although construction materials have been brought from various areas of Dhading and Ichhakamana, a shortage is anticipated for the long term. The construction side claims that work will not stop if materials are sufficient. Among the six bridges on this section, work is progressing after the foundation for the Hugdi and Charoudi bridges, and landslide prevention work is also ongoing at Krishnabhir.

This nearly 39-kilometer-long road section is being expanded with the support of the World Bank. Under this project, 2.2 kilometers of road in the Malekhu, Benighat, and Mugling areas will be six lanes wide, and 7.2 kilometers of road will be four lanes wide.

The project stated that a 3-lane 'climbing' lane will be constructed in uphill sections, and the remaining road will remain two lanes. Sharma–ZICG secured the contract for 4 billion 80 crore 59 lakh rupees.