Fuel Price Hikes and Supply Shortages Stall Major Development Projects in Sudurpashchim

Mahendranagar. A sharp rise in petroleum prices and supply chain disruptions have severely impacted major development projects in Sudurpashchim. With contractors unable to continue operations due to fuel shortages and soaring costs, strategic road and irrigation projects are on the verge of closure.

Work on the southern section of the Seti Highway (Tikapur-Lode-Chainpur-Taklakot road project) has come to a near standstill. According to project chief Ramkumar Dev, heavy machinery and equipment used for track opening have been grounded as contractors have exhausted their fuel reserves.

The 204-kilometer project, which began in 2074 BS, still has 35 kilometers of track left to open. "We managed to blacktop 7 kilometers this year, but the shortage of bitumen and fuel has brought the remaining work to a halt," Dev said.

A similar situation persists at the Mahakali Irrigation Third Phase, a pride project of Sudurpashchim. Although work is underway across seven packages for the main canal, contractors have submitted formal requests to the office stating they cannot continue due to price hikes.

According to project information officer Yadav Baral, it is not just fuel; the cost of wire mesh required for river control has also skyrocketed, stalling contracted work. This poses a significant risk to riverbank areas during the monsoon season.

The Mahakali Corridor, connecting Kanchanpur to Tinkar in Darchula, is also caught in the grip of inflation. Work on the 425-kilometer corridor was being carried out in 13 packages, but contractors have begun abandoning sites following the surge in fuel and bitumen prices. Dinesh Raikhola, information officer at the corridor project office, stated that it is difficult to proceed without price adjustments.

Pushpa Raj Awasthi, president of the Construction Entrepreneurs Association of Kanchanpur, stated that the construction industry is facing an 'emergency' situation. He lamented that the scarcity of construction materials and extreme price hikes have left entrepreneurs in a position where they may have to sell their homes and land.

More than 600 construction entrepreneurs in Kanchanpur are currently preparing for a 'construction holiday.' The contractors maintain that they cannot operate heavy machinery or resume work until the government adjusts for the price increases.