BAJURA, DECEMBER 16

With contractors neglecting the Martadi-Kolti road section in Bajura, people have had to suffer unnecessarily.

It's was a long time ago that the national and provincial governments selected contractors and entrusted them with the task of blacktopping different sections of the 40- km road. Infrastructure Development Office, Achham had divided the road into three sections - 9 km from Martadi to Chuthi, 5 km from Chuthi to Dhamkane and 26 km from Chuthi to Koltichaur - and awarded these sections to different contractors for blacktopping.

Though work is under way in two sections, it hasn't started along the Chuthi-Dhamkane road section yet due to negligence on the part of the contractor.

Travellers are paying the price due to the poor condition of the road. As the road is otherwise impassable, vehicles such as tractors and jeeps need human assistance to pass through the entire stretch.

"We had informed the authorities concerned about the condition of the road, but to no avail. Nobody pays heed," said local Shankar Rokaya.

According to Ward 7 Chairman of Badimalika Municipality Dharmaraj Padhyaya, Baniyan Ishwosher JV Company was entrusted with the construction of the Chuthi-Dhamkane stretch.

"The road was supposed to be blacktopped. There are some points through which vehicles can't pass on their own and have to be pushed by people," Padhyaya said.

According to the road project office Sanfebagar Chief Rudra Bogati, the company has got contract extension by one year keeping in view the COVID-19 crisis.

However, the contractor has been ignoring the notice of the office to start work immediately.


A version of this article appears in the print on December 17, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.