Butwal-Gorusinge Road Expansion Project Reaches 23 Percent Progress

Butwal. The construction progress of the Butwal-Gorusinge road expansion project under the East-West Highway has reached 23 percent. The financial progress of this project, which was inaugurated on Magh 10 last year, stands at 19 percent.
Out of the total 69-kilometer length of the Butwal-Chandrauta road section, construction work is currently underway on about 50 kilometers up to Gorusinge. Preparations are also being made to advance the expansion process for the remaining 19 kilometers. 

The 50 kilometers of road currently under construction have been divided into two parts, with work ongoing on 25-kilometer sections each in Rupandehi and Kapilvastu. 

According to the project's information officer, Engineer Ashok Paudel, the physical progress in the Rupandehi section has reached 22.2 percent, with financial progress at 18.93 percent. This section, extending from Butwal to Kothi River, is followed by the Kapilvastu section (from Kothi to Gorusinge), where physical progress is 24 percent and financial progress is 19.83 percent. 

The Chinese construction company Shanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation and Chitwan's Ashish Construction Sewa JV have taken this contract for 13.5595 billion rupees. According to the agreement, the goal is to complete the construction within three years. 

Impact of West Asia Conflict 

Although there are usually about 900 workers on the project, only about 500 are currently active. Due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region leading to a rise in fuel prices in the international market, construction companies have reduced the workforce to control costs. 

According to Engineer Paudel, the rise in petroleum prices has directly affected the construction sector. He says, 'For now, some workers have been reduced, and it may increase again once the situation eases.'
Similarly, there is a problem with riverbed materials for construction. Specifically, there is a shortage of soil in the Rupandehi area. Although about 700,000 cubic meters of soil are required in this area, sufficient sources have not been available. Currently, work is being done in the Saljhandi area using soil provided by Sainamaina Municipality. 

There is an acute shortage of soil in the Butwal area. The project stated that problems have arisen due to a lack of necessary facilitation from local levels. Meanwhile, although riverbed materials are currently available in Kapilvastu, resource management for the upcoming fiscal year appears challenging. 

Intensity in Structural Construction

Construction work on bridges, culverts, underpasses, drains, animal crossings, and various types of retaining walls is currently underway in the road area. 

Vehicle underpasses are being constructed at Jitgadhi-Belbas Chowk, Naya Gaun, Tamnagar, Murgiya Bazaar in Sainamaina, and Buddhanagar in Rupandehi. Similarly, underpass construction is also ongoing at Char Number Jitpur Chowk in Kapilvastu. 

In Kapilvastu, earth filling on 14 kilometers and gravel work on 7 kilometers are nearing completion. Nine out of 10 bridges there are under construction. Out of 67 culverts to be built in Rupandehi, work is ongoing on 39. Out of 5 overhead bridges, 3 are in the construction phase. Additionally, two animal crossings have already been completed.