Blacktopping of postal highway begins

Birgunj, March 14

Blacktopping of Birgunj-Sedhawa road section of the postal highway that is undergoing upgradation with financial assistance of the Indian government has started.

As per the contract, a construction company namely Pappu/AMR JV had been entrusted with the construction of the 30 km road stretch from Pratimachowk in Birgunj to Sedhawa. Stipulated to be completed by the end of May 2020, the project is estimated to cost 1.32 billion rupees.

According to AMR project manager Jasuwa Abraham, so far 30 per cent of the work has been completed. “We started the black-topping work from Alau of Birgunj metropolis and have so far completed 30 per cent of the work,” said Abraham.

Meanwhile, it’s worth noting here that the black-topping of the road stretches to only seven metres in width despite the design code, which has it that the road should stretch 30 metres in width.

“We couldn’t upgrade the road as per the estimate given the dispute surrounding land acquisition,” said Abraham.

It is learnt that locals have been obstructing the road upgradation on the 11-km stretch from Birgunj to Dhonghi Bridge in Bahuarwabhathaseeking compensation for their land.