Muglin-Pokhara Road Project West Section Construction Slows

Kaski. Construction has slowed in the western section of the Muglin-Pokhara Road Upgradation Project along the Prithvi Highway. The road expansion and upgradation, which started five years ago, has not yet been completed despite repeated deadline extensions. The 38.71-kilometer road section from Jamune in Tanahu to Setipul in Pokhara falls under the western section.

The project's deadline was extended for the third time last December to June 15, but based on the recent progress, the completion within the stipulated period has become uncertain.

The project has stated that the construction has been affected by problems in petroleum product supply, increased prices of construction materials, and continuous rainfall in recent days. Due to the price hike, the construction company has not been able to achieve the expected pace in work other than essential tasks.

According to Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, the project chief of the Muglin-Pokhara Road Project West Section, the physical progress of the project has reached 78 percent so far. He informed that out of the total road section, the first layer of blacktopping has been completed for 38 kilometers and the second layer for 37.28 kilometers.

Under the project, 20.55 kilometers of four-lane road and 18.16 kilometers of four-lane road with service lanes need to be constructed. Project Chief Kunwar said that the fuel shortage has directly impacted the construction.

He said, "The construction company requires four thousand liters of diesel daily, but only one thousand five hundred liters are currently available. The work has been affected due to the excessive increase in the price of construction materials. This makes it difficult to complete the project within the stipulated time."

According to Ananta Baral, the project's information officer, work is underway on the service lane construction, road marking, thermoplastic paint, and installation of 'W beam road safety barriers' in the blacktopped areas. The contract for the construction of the western section under the project, which is being funded by the Asian Development Bank, Nepal's major development partner, was signed with the Chinese company Yanhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction for Rs 7.40 billion.

The construction contract for the said section was made on June 2, 2078 BS, and construction began on August 12, 2078 BS.