Chitwan, November 22

Authorities have rolled up their sleeves to expedite the road expansion and upgradation project along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section.

Although 40 per cent of the project work should have been completed by now as per the plan, only 30 per cent has been completed so far. The project has obstructed vehicular movement along the road section.

The contractors had barricaded the road section from 11:00am to 3:00pm for five months, from January to May this year. However, work was suspended from June due to the monsoon and then the festivals.

Engineer Shiva Khanal said they were preparing to resume work now. He added that because of the extremely steep terrain just above the road in Muglin, they could not carry out construction work without halting vehicular movement.

The contractor has demanded more human resources and equipment to help barricade the road. “We have urged the administration to stop vehicular movement,” said Khanal.

Meanwhile, the company is preparing to black-top parts of the road that have already been expanded. Khanal said the black-topping work would begin from the first week of January.

The contractor had signed a contract to complete the project by April 2017, now been extended by four months due to delays caused by last year’s earthquakes and the border blockade.