Arniko Highway Expansion Project Achieves Significant Progress

Kathmandu. The Arniko Highway expansion project, Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel section, has achieved significant progress. The physical progress of the second section (Sanga-Dhulikhel), which has a total length of 15.8 kilometers, has reached 73 percent, and the first section (Suryabinayak-Sanga) has reached 59 percent. According to Project Chief Vijay Mahato, efforts are being made to speed up the road expansion work despite adverse weather, local obstructions, and a shortage of construction materials. "We have expedited the payment process to continue work even during the rainy season. As per the legal provision of closing accounts on Asar 25th, we have already made payments for the work completed by the contractor by Asar 25th. The contractor is still working after the 25th, and we will complete the payment process for that. As this is an extremely sensitive and nationally prioritized highway, the government has also clearly instructed us to continue the work without stopping. We are coordinating accordingly."

First Underpass Built with Domestic Manpower and Technology

The underpass constructed at Sanga is the second underpass in Nepal. While the Kalanki underpass on the Koteshwor-Kalanki road section was constructed with Chinese technology and manpower, the Sanga underpass is the first to be built with domestic manpower and technology, designed by Nepali engineers, involving Nepali contractors, and under the direct supervision of the Department of Roads. Vehicles are currently operating through it. Project Chief Mahato said, "We have allowed vehicles to operate after laying one layer of blacktopping. This underpass has Nepali designers, Nepali contractors, and the Department of Roads itself is supervising. This is the country's first glorious underpass built with Nepali technology, Nepali manpower, and Nepali supervision."

The total length of this underpass is 1,110 meters. The underpass includes approach roads of 190 meters towards Banepa and 900 meters towards Bhaktapur. Its height is 6 meters and width is 10.5 meters. Additionally, a 20-meter bridge has been constructed within the underpass.

Currently, the first layer of blacktopping of the Sanga underpass has been completed, and it has been opened for vehicle operation. The main structure and approach road construction of the Sanga underpass are approximately 95 percent complete.

Due to the need for hill cutting and landslide control in approximately 800 to 900 meters of the upper section of the underpass, vehicles are currently commuting in both directions through the lower lane. Project Chief Mahato informed that the work of hill cutting, retaining walls, and bio-engineering will be expedited immediately after the rainy season, and it will take about 3 months.

Five and a Half Kilometers of Road Blacktopping Completed

According to the project, approximately five and a half kilometers of road between the Sanga and Dhulikhel sections have been blacktopped so far. Of this, 3.2 kilometers have been blacktopped with a six-lane configuration, and 2.8 kilometers have been blacktopped with two lanes. Similarly, 1.5 kilometers from Suryabinayak to Jagati have been blacktopped with four lanes, and 1 kilometer in the Sanga underpass area has been completed.

Blacktopping work has been temporarily halted as blacktopping done during the rainy season is not durable. The project stated that blacktopping will resume after the rainy season. Currently, work other than blacktopping is underway.

Punyabati Khola Bridge Dispute Resolved, Extension Needed to Complete Work

Three bridges are under construction under the project at Jagati, Mahadev Khola, and Punyabati Khola in Banepa, with an overall physical progress of only 10 percent so far.

The bridge at Punyabati Khola in Banepa used to be submerged every year due to floods. To solve this problem, when a new design was proposed with a 3.5-meter increase in height compared to before, local residents obstructed the work for about two and a half years, arguing that the road height would increase significantly in the market area. Currently, addressing the demands of the locals, the design has been approved by adding an underpass and slightly reducing the bridge's height, and work has commenced.

Work was somewhat affected due to damage to the bridge foundation during excavation caused by the flood in Baishakh last year. Although the deadline for bridge construction is until the end of Kartik, the project stated that the work will not be completed within that period, and an extension will be required.

Why the Delay?

The project stated that both financial and technical reasons contributed to the delay in the construction of this project. Initially, there were delays due to the non-timely relocation of electric poles, houses, etc., for site clearance. In the meantime, due to a lack of budget, progress has not been as per the target, according to the project.

In the current fiscal year, work was affected for some time due to the increase in petroleum prices in the international market and the shortage of bitumen. Project Chief Mahato stated that this inconvenience caused by the West Asian war delayed the work by about 2 months. He added that if this problem had not occurred, the target would have been to complete the first layer of blacktopping in both sections by the end of Asar.

Project Chief Mahato said, "The work was delayed by about 2 months due to the Middle East war; otherwise, it was certain that the first layer of blacktopping would be fully completed in both sections by the end of Asar. The shortage of bitumen and the increase in petroleum prices did affect our work. Initially, contractors were reluctant to work, citing potential losses. However, we explained the importance of this road and assured them by asking them to submit claims for price adjustments as per the rules. Then, bitumen was procured at a higher cost, and work resumed."

The deadline for the first section (Suryabinayak-Sanga), which started on Poush 24, 2079, has been extended until Falgun 29, 2083. This first section is being constructed by Ashish-Kumar Shrestha-Bandhan Bhagawati JV.

Similarly, the deadline for the second section (Sanga-Dhulikhel), being constructed by Lama Construction, is until the 23rd of Mangsir next year. Although there were some local obstructions in the first section regarding the relocation of electric poles, demolition of houses, and land acquisition, these problems have now been largely resolved.

A budget of approximately 95 crore rupees has been allocated for the project for the upcoming fiscal year. Although the initial allocation appears low, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has prioritized this project and committed to ensuring no budget shortage.