Narayanghat-Butwal Road Expansion Eastern Section Paved

Nawalparasi. The main road's entire blacktopping and concrete road construction has been completed in the eastern section of the Narayanghat-Butwal Road Expansion Project. The construction of the binder course, wearing course (final blacktopping), and concrete pavement (concrete road) on the pavement of the eastern section of the project was completed from Friday, informed Shiv Khanal, Information Officer and Engineer of the Narayanghat-Butwal Road Project (Eastern Section). "The blacktopping and concrete road construction of the main road has been completed. Only road safety-related works remain," he said, "With this, the overall physical progress of the eastern section of the road project has reached 92.38 percent." According to him, vehicle movement has become smooth in most of the completed sections, and the work on the remaining auxiliary structures is also in the final stage. The 113 km long Narayanghat-Butwal Road Project, being constructed with the concessional loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is being implemented in two sections. The eastern section is about 65 km from Gaindakot to Daunne, and the western section is about 48 km from Daunne to Butwal. The construction, contracted with China State Construction Engineering Corporation of China in 2019, could not be completed within the scheduled time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delays in forest area tree cutting, relocation of electricity and water supply structures, problems in the supply of riverbed construction materials, and other technical reasons. With the construction work gaining significant momentum in recent months, the entire blacktopping of the main road has been completed in the eastern section. Most of the bridges, culverts, drains, service roads, and other infrastructure have already been completed. Information Officer Khanal informed that preparations are being made to complete the remaining road safety and beautification-related works gradually and hand over the project completely. It is expected that after the completion of this road expansion project, which is part of the east-west highway with the highest vehicle traffic in the country, the Narayanghat-Butwal journey will become safer, smoother, and shorter. It is also believed that this will have a positive impact on the movement, trade, and tourism promotion between Gandaki, Lumbini, and Bagmati provinces.