Kathmandu, January 12
Around one-and-a-half decade into construction, 83 per cent work on the Postal Highway has been completed. It is expected to take around three years for completion of the national pride project.
Under the project considered to be a base for the prosperity of Madhes, construction of 910-kilometre road and 115 bridges have been completed.
"The COVID-19 pandemic, disputes over the project location and the border blockade have been blamed for delay in completion of the project," said Dharmendra Kumar Jha, chief of the Postal Highway Directorate.
"The construction of around 250-kilometre road is yet to be contracted and work on around 500-kilometre road is under way."
"Negligence on the part of the contractors in some cases is responsible for the delay," said Jha, adding, "In some other cases, the contract was extended from time to time." Jha said although there was arrangement to extend the deadline even after the project was not completed within the deadline due to laws in the past, now a construction company could be fined for its failure to complete the works within the deadline.
"The construction company could face action if it fails to complete the determined task during the extended period."
A version of this article appears in the print on January 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
