Dhangadi, January 1

Eight months have passed since the contract was signed to begin construction of the Mohanapul-Attariya six-lane road in Dhangadhi, Kailali. Progress on the project, however, has been very slow.

As per the agreement, the six-lane road was to be completed within two years after signing of the contract. However, only six per cent of the work has been accomplished till now. The six-lane highway will be 50 metres wide but the government’s failure to remove physical structures along the road stretch has made it difficult for the contractor company to expand the road.

The six-lane highway from Mohanapul to Attariya covering 14.2 km is divided into three sections and three separate agreements have been reached to expand each of the road sections.

Roshan Bhatta of Lumbini Rajendra Danfe JV, which was awarded the contract to construct the second stretch, said they were having difficulty carrying out their work as physical structures along the road still remained there.

Earlier, the project had issued public notice three times asking locals to remove physical structures from the roadside, but in vain. Project acting chief and engineer Prabin Chaudhary said the problem had arisen as the municipality had passed the map for a 45-metre wide road, while the government had determined the width at 50 metres back in 1977.

The project has a budget of Rs 1.68 billion. After the project, the highway will have a 32.2-metre wide four-lane road flanked by footpaths on either side. As per the plan, electricity poles and telephone poles will be placed be at a distance of 24 to 25 metres from the middle of the road on both sides.

Three bridges will be constructed along the highway. The bridge over the Mohana River will be expanded to four lanes. Another bridge will be constructed near Geta airport, while third one will be over the Manahara River.