Section of Crucial Beni-Darbang Road Project Stalled in Myagdi, Nepal

Myagdi. The third section (Ranwang-Darbang) of the Beni-Darbang road project in Myagdi has been left incomplete. The upgrade of the eight-kilometer stretch connecting Ranwang in Mangala Rural Municipality-2 to Darbang, the center of Malika, was initiated six years ago with a target to complete the strategic road in two years.

The contract for the construction was signed on Jestha 31, 2076 BS, between the construction company Biruwa-Caravan and the Infrastructure Development Office, Myagdi, for NPR 225.7 million. The project, which was supposed to be completed by Jestha 2078 BS, currently has a physical progress of 87 percent, according to the office.

Last year, 3.3 kilometers of the Ranwang-Tolawang section were paved using the DBS D technology. The work on retaining walls and drains in Dhadkhark and Darbang Bazaar is in the final stages. However, road construction work has not taken place since last Ashar.

Dr. Mahendra Baniya, Senior Divisional Engineer and Chief of the Infrastructure Development Office, Myagdi, stated that the contractor has been repeatedly reminded in writing and verbally to resume work, as the contract deadline is set for this Chaitra month.

The delay in the construction of the Beni-Darbang road, considered the 'lifeline' of Myagdi, has caused hardship for travelers, increased the risk of accidents, and created difficulties in transportation operations. Transport entrepreneur Jeevan KC mentioned that locals are suffering from dust due to the increased risk of accidents.

Local residents complain that the delay in the road project, part of the Gandaki Province Government's 'One Constituency One Road' program, is due to the contractor's inability to manage construction materials, labor, and equipment mobilization.

Chandra Thakali, operator of the construction company Biruwa-Caravan, attributed the delay to the scarcity of river-based construction materials, insufficient budget allocation, and subsequent issues like the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters immediately after the agreement.

Thakali stated that they are preparing to bring laborers and equipment within one or two days. He committed to completing the remaining work within the next month. The section affected by the Bangepairo landslide has been removed from this contract.

Apart from the landslide area, the widening of the road, and the construction of drains and retaining walls have been completed. For this project, NPR 15 million was allocated in the last fiscal year, and the provincial government transferred an additional NPR 15 million for payment.

NPR 25 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year. Despite this project receiving the largest budget allocation in Myagdi, the financial progress remains zero after eight months of the fiscal year.

The 24 km long Beni-Darbang road, which connects the district headquarters Beni with Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri Rural Municipalities, was opened in 2063 BS. It is considered strategically important as an alternative to the Baglung section of the Mid-Hill Highway, which is also used by residents of Taman Khola Rural Municipality in Baglung.

The 12.5 km stretch from Beni to Sim was paved four years ago. The four-kilometer Sim-Panabagar section was completed in Jestha 2081 BS. Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Resham Jugjali stated that despite his facilitation and coordination, the construction company has delayed the road paving by citing various excuses.

"The contractor did not work even though NPR 50 million was allocated in the fiscal year 2080/081 to complete the work," he said, adding, "We managed the payment by reallocating the budget allocated last year as it was insufficient."

He committed to lobbying the government for additional budget if the current year's allocation proves insufficient, emphasizing that the construction entrepreneur must expedite the completion of the unfinished work.