Chitwan, February 9

The Narayangadh-Muglin road upgradation project is all set to get yet another extension with the February 20 deadline approaching fast.

According to project chief Chandra Narayan Yadav, preparations are under way to extend the contract by three months. “Since the project got affected by elections and monsoon rains, we have decided to extend the contract period till May 30,” said Yadav.

The project was originally supposed to be completed within two years by April last year. But given a number of factors, including the earthquakes, border blockade and heavy rains, the contract has already been extended three times, with one more extension on the cards.  “Though the contractors have sought an unusual extension of up to 1,004 days, we can’t go against the rule that allows for a maximum one year contract extension. We can extend the contract so as to compensate the wasted period,” said Yadav.

So far, blacktopping of 17.7 of the 33.2-km road has been over, with preparations to blacktop additional 7-km stretch on the last leg, as per the project sources. Three different companies are involved in the upgradation. While BL and Shrestha Construction, which is working in the first section, has blacktopped 6 of 10.4-km section on its part starting from Anptari, Wood Hill and Lama Construction has completed blacktopping of 7.7 of its 10.7-km stretch. Similarly, Supreme and Rautaha Construction, which is entrusted with 12.1-km upgradation of Simaltal-Mugling section, has blacktopped four kilometre stretch so far.

Meanwhile, it is yet to decide whether to install a cantilever or cutting into the cliff. “Though there is supposed to be a 143 m cantilever, it’s not decided officially whether the cantilever should be installed,” Yadav said. Though the project sources had said work to install cantilever would start from September/October itself, the contractor companies have maintained that installing cantilever is practically impossible.