Bitumen Shortage Halts Construction of Nagdhunga-Mugling Road Section

Kathmandu. The construction of the Nagdhunga–Mugling road has been halted due to a shortage of bitumen used for blacktopping the road. 

Gyanendra Ghimire, a representative of the construction company Jiangsu Sagun J.V., stated that work had to be stopped because of a bitumen shortage in the international market caused by tensions in the Middle East during the peak construction season. 

Ghimire explains that suppliers are canceling orders, citing an acute global shortage of bitumen. In the final phase of construction, 6 kilometers of the Nagdhunga-Naubise section have already been blacktopped. Work on the final layer of the remaining 6 kilometers was underway when it was forced to stop, Ghimire added. 

Ghimire noted that approximately 530 tons of bitumen are required to complete the final blacktopping of the 12.2-kilometer Nagdhunga–Naubise road. If the necessary bitumen is made available immediately, the final blacktopping of this section could be completed within 10 days. 

Keshav Ojha, Chief of the Nagdhunga–Mugling Road Project (Eastern Section), stated that contractors have already informed the government that they cannot proceed with the blacktopping work due to the bitumen shortage. Ojha also mentioned that the quota system imposed by the Nepal Oil Corporation on petroleum products has made it difficult to obtain sufficient diesel from pumps to operate the project's machinery and equipment. 

The physical progress of the Nagdhunga–Naubise road section currently stands at 88 percent, with financial progress at 82 percent. The market shortage of petroleum products is directly impacting the project. This road, which falls under the Tribhuvan Highway area, is being constructed with loan assistance from the World Bank.