Dhulikhel-Khawa Road Upgrade Resumes After Years of Neglect

KATHMANDU. The Dhulikhel-Khawa road section, a vital part of the Araniko Highway connecting Kathmandu to China, has left travelers suffering for four years due to extreme contractor negligence. The road has remained in a dilapidated state for far too long.

Following years of hardship, the upgrade of this road section has finally gained momentum under a new contract after the previous one was terminated due to delays.

The Division Road Office, Bhaktapur, stated that work is underway to complete the blacktopping by the month of Baisakh.

According to Division Chief and Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh, the base for the blacktopping is ready. A one-lane Cement Treated Base (CTB) has been completed on approximately 2.5 kilometers of the stretch.

Division Chief Yogesh said, 'Although our contract period extends until Mangsir, we are working with the goal of finishing the paving by Baisakh. Once the paving is done, road marking and slope protection works will follow.'

He noted that while the contract deadline is Mangsir, they are pushing to complete the paving by Baisakh. He indicated that rising costs of construction materials like bitumen could pose challenges to meeting the target.

The office has announced that traffic will be completely halted for 10 days to accelerate the upgrade and blacktopping work.

A meeting of stakeholders held at the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchok, on Chaitra 19 decided to impose a complete ban on all types of vehicles on this road section from Chaitra 21 to 30. Previously, the road was scheduled to be closed from Chaitra 7, but work was delayed due to rain.

According to the Bhaktapur Division Office, the closure is necessary to effectively manage paving, road widening, and drainage systems. During this period, all private and public vehicles, except for essential services like ambulances and fire trucks, are requested to use alternative routes.

The poor state of this road was primarily caused by the extreme delays of the previous contractor, 'Gauri-Parbati Nirman Sewa.' Despite a 22-month contract, the company wasted time without making progress. The project remained abandoned as government agencies failed to take timely action, opting instead to extend deadlines. It was only on Phagun 13, 2081, that the department finally terminated the contract, after which the contractor went to court to halt the process.

The contract with Gauri-Parbati Nirman Sewa was signed on Jestha 20, 2079. After the contractor failed to deliver satisfactory work within the 22-month deadline, the office terminated the contract on Phagun 13, 2081. The contractor appealed to the Patan High Court, but the case was dismissed on Ashar 25, clearing the way for a new process.

Although a new tender was called on Shrawan 1, the Division Office in Bhaktapur noted that the contract process was slightly delayed due to the 'Gen-Z' movement, Dashain, and Tihar.

Under the new agreement, the project is valued at 315.6 million rupees (excluding VAT). The contract, signed in the last week of Kartik, mandates completion within 14 months. The cost has increased by approximately 110 million rupees compared to the previous contract of 201.9 million rupees.

As this is a major highway leading to the northern border point of Tatopani, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, and Ramechhap, the delay has forced travelers to endure years of dust, mud, and heavy traffic jams. The 4-kilometer road section is being widened to 12 meters and blacktopped.