BAJURA, MARCH 25 The blacktopping work along the Martadi–Kolti road section in Bajura has remained incomplete, with repeated delays leaving significant portions of the allocated budget unutilized. The Infrastructure Development Office in Achham has attributed the stalled progress to the contractor's failure to start work in a timely manner. According to office chief Jang Bahadur Thapa, the contractor responsible, PS Baniya Construction Service, has consistently failed to carry out the work as scheduled. This has resulted in annual budget allocations being frozen or returned. In the previous fiscal year alone, the project had a budget of Rs 150 million, of which over Rs 135 million was returned due to insufficient progress. Despite a budget allocation of Rs 200 million this fiscal year, work has yet to commence. The project was originally contracted in 2020 (FY 2077/78) for the blacktopping of a 26-kilometre stretch between Chuthi and Kolti. The contractor was awarded Rs 501.7 million and was expected to complete the work within three years. Even after repeated deadline extensions by the authorities, only about 50 percent of the work has been completed. The office has warned that if delays continue this year, a significant portion of the allocated funds may again remain unutilized.

The 41-kilometre Martadi–Kolti road is a multi-year provincial project. Besides the 26-kilometre section from Chuthi to Kolti, the remaining 15 kilometres stretch from Martadi to Dhmakne had a separate allocation of Rs 580 million. Of this, the first 9-kilometre stretch from Martadi to Chuthi is mostly complete, while the 6-kilometre section from Chuthi to Dhmakne remains largely unfinished. The budget for this road is shared equally between the federal government and the provincial government, with 50 percent each. Local residents, including Shankar Bahadur Chadar, said that during the monsoon season, the incomplete sections of the road become nearly impassable. Construction on the Martadi–Kolti road began in 1999 (2056 BS), and even after 26 years, the road is yet to be fully completed. The foundation stone was laid by the then District Chairperson Lal Bahadur Thapa on 7 Falgun 2056 BS, with the goal of connecting vehicles to Kolti by 2060 BS.