Kathmandu, December 31:

The warning, issued by the Department of International Development, UK, that it might cut off its fund for construction of the 182-km Hile-Bhojpur-Diktel road if works are not completed within stipulated time, has worked.

The construction work has now gained momentum and is going on smoothly.

The project has increased the number of workers and also taken two power tillers, the first vehicles in Bhojpur district, for clearing soil and carrying stones at the site.

Some two dozens labourers are being trained on rock drilling.

“The project had adopted labour intensive method for the construction of the roads avoiding use of machinery,” said Ram Thapaliya, physical access specialist at the project adding that now on they would use drilling machines to crack boulders, which earlier were done by labourers.

The Rural Access Programme has undertaken the responsibility of organising the construction

work as per the food for work policy.

“Though sluggish, labour intensive construction method has other benefits including providing employment and other associated benefits to as many as 4,400 local people,” said Thapaliya.

Moreover, the labour intensive construction method is more environment friendly.

He said half the construction work has already been completed. “People are quite enthusiastic about the project. We will complete it on time,” he said.

The project that begun in August 2001 with the £ 32 million fund by the DFID, with an aim to complete by June 2006, could spend only £12 million while the remaining £ 20 million is being spent for the construction of road linking Khotang, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha districts.

“If the deadline is not met, the district might be cut off from the highway connection,” said Bill Seal, a senior engineer at the Rural Access Programme, which is the executing agency of the project.