In general building bridges are considered costlier and technically more difficult than roads.The highway project began in 2010 with grant assistance of the Government of India. As per the agreement signed with India, Nepal has to build bridges using internal resources. Of the 1,792-kilometer project, only 67 kilometers - Lamki-Tikapur section (27.5 km) and Seti-Bhajani section (40 kilometers) are being blacktopped. Similarly, 58 bridges are under different stages of construction while work on 46 bridges has yet to begin.
According to the agreement, India will provide grant assistance to build 607 km section of the 1,792-kilometer project.
The project has two packages - first is the highway that goes parallel south of the East-West Highway and the second is different north-south roads that connect postal highway with East-West Highway.
Multiple factors have been affecting the national pride project since construction started in 2010. The project was conceived after the people's movement of 1990.
Speaking at the Development Committee of parliament on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said that failure to provide right of way to contractors in time and termination of contracts by the Indian government, following their decision to quit the project, had stalled the project. Officials say contractors backed off from the project due to low-bidding.
As per the agreement with India, only Indian firms are eligible to develop the project.
Though the agreement has now been reviewed, allowing Nepal to hire joint venture of Nepali and Indian companies to develop the project, only Indian firms are qualified to be the consultant of the project.
The tendering process of 13 sections of 360.28 kilometers in the first phase, which includes nine sections funded by the Indian government, is in the final stage. But Department of Roads (DoR) is waiting of go-ahead of the Indian side as well as budget from the Ministry of Finance to mobilize contractors.
The process to award contracts to the selected firms was also affected after Nepal's relation with India deteriorated after the promulgation of new constitution in Nepal.
The finance ministry has made commitment to provide Rs 5 billion out of the projects estimated cost Rs 13 billion.
Balaram Mishra, chief of Hulaki Rajmarga Project, said that they have received authorization of spend only Rs 750 million" "The amount, however, has yet to be released even though it has already been five months since we got authorizatio"," Mishra added.
The project had sought Rs 1.08 billion for the first phase.
Recurring problems like difficulties in getting forest clearance, shifting utilities, acquiring land in several sections have also been mentioned as the projects affecting the national pride project.
'MoF HAS NOT KEPT ITS WORDS'
Though Former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat had, last year, pledged to provide budget for the project, the amount has not been released yet.
Speaking at the committee, Rabindra Adhikari, chair of the Development Committee, criticized the finance ministry, stating that the ministry has not kept its words.
The committee has yet again decided to direct the finance ministry to release needful budget immediately. It has also directed the ministry to provide to provide necessary budget to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the second phase of the project.
At the meeting, Gachhadar sought lawmakers' help to get the budget released immediately. Lawmaker Ranjana Sarkar criticized the government for leaving the project midway which has not only affected people's health but also increased frequency of accidents in project-affected areas.
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