Contractor Fails to Complete Strategic Road Project in Baglung Despite Extensions

Baglung. The construction entrepreneur who was contracted to complete the Harichaur-Malma-Pandavkhani road in two years has still not finished the work even after three years have passed.

Local residents are facing difficulties as the road, part of the 'One Constituency One Strategic Road' initiative, has not been upgraded. The agreement for the road was signed in Bhadra, 2079 BS. If the work had proceeded according to the agreement, it should have been handed over by Bhadra, 2081 BS. Despite the contract duration being extended twice for the blacktopping of the eight-kilometer road, only 70 percent physical progress has been achieved.

Bishnu Lamichhane, the information officer at the Road Division Office, Baglung, stated that the deadline was extended for the second time due to the failure to complete the work on time. The construction responsibility was taken by Worldwide/Lopurna JV construction company. Locals protested against the construction entrepreneur last Kartik.

Initially, the construction entrepreneur delayed the work citing payment issues. The contract was signed in Bhadra, 2079 BS, for 252 million rupees. The agreement covered the upgrading, concreting, and blacktopping of the initial eight-kilometer stretch of the Harichaur-Malla section of the road.

Once this road is blacktopped, it will facilitate direct road connectivity between the Galekot Municipality and Badigad Rural Municipality of Baglung, linking them to the Nisi Khola Rural Municipality.