West Asia Conflict Disrupts Asphalt Work on Nagdhunga-Mugling Road Project

Kathmandu. The paving work on the Nagdhunga dash;Mugling road expansion project has been affected due to disruptions in the supply of bitumen (asphalt) caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The project stated that work is on the verge of stopping due to a shortage of construction materials.

According to Keshav Prasad Ojha, Chief of the Nagdhunga dash;Mugling Road Project (Eastern Section), the paving work is currently impacted because the supply of bitumen from foreign markets is not smooth. "Given the current situation, it does not look like the work will take a very long time," Ojha said.

The project requires two tankers of bitumen daily for asphalting in its two sections. While normally the project maintains a stock sufficient for two to three days, currently only one to two tankers of bitumen are being made available per week. According to Ojha, contractors are unable to receive the bitumen even after paying and booking it in advance.

Problems are also being seen in the supply of other byproducts made from petroleum products, such as polyethylene pipes, not just bitumen.

Acknowledging the problems faced by contractors who are demanding a 'construction holiday' due to material shortages and high costs, Ojha said, "Contractors are complaining that even when we pay high prices, we cannot get bitumen-related materials, which has also come to our attention."

In the two weeks following the election, the final stage of paving for about 5 kilometers in the first section has been completed. Similarly, the first layer of paving for about 1.5 kilometers in the second section has also been finished. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding bitumen, the project itself is uncertain about how long the remaining work can be sustained.

"Currently, one tanker of bitumen arrives, we work until it runs out, and then we have to wait until the next one arrives," Ojha added. "The 'aggressive' progress target set for this year appears unlikely to be met due to the bitumen shortage."

Project Chief Ojha expressed concern over the situation that necessitates stepping back from the set targets.