Khotang, January 23

As the black topping of the runway at Thamkharka Airport is unlikely to be completed within the given deadline due to sheer negligence on the part of the contractor, the authorities concerned handed over a schedule for its black topping to the contractor in Khotang today.

The black topping schedule was handed over to the contractor with the initiative of Member of Parliament Bishal Bhattarai. The contractor Rauta Construction has not even completed gravelling of the runway when only five months are left to meet the deadline. Hence, a written commitment was signed and handed over to the contractor making a clear schedule.

As per the schedule for black topping, the contractor has been asked to prepare the sub-base course by the end of January, complete the entire work of the sub-base by the end of February, prepare all necessary materials for base course by the end of March and complete all the work of base course by the end of April.

Likewise, the schedule states that the contractor has to manage asphalt concrete machine by the last week of March and complete all the asphalt concrete work by mid-June, according to Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Engineer Ratna Shrestha. The contractor has been told to complete the construction work of the runway by mid-July.

The contractor had started working on black topping of the runway in March, 2016. The cost for the project is Rs 92.5 million. However, the contractor has completed only 35 per cent work of the total project with just five months remaining for the deadline to expire. Tardy progress of the project has enraged the residents of Khotehang, Barahapokhari and Jantedhunga rural municipalities. All flights at airport have been halted since March, 2016.