NAWALPARASI, May 1: A 33-kilometer stretch of the Narayanghat-Butwal section along the East West Highway has been blacktopped. Initially slated for completion within the deadline of 42 months, the project reports a 50 percent accomplishment in over five years and three months.

According to Engineer Shiva Khanal, the information officer for the Narayanghat-Butwal Road Planning east section, as of April 27, 33 kilometers of road has been blacktopped. Progress is swiftly underway, with plans to upgrade the roadway to accommodate four lanes.  In the last five months alone, 18 kilometers of road have been upgraded one way when previously it took nearly half a decade to pave just 15 kilometers with the blacktop. 

All small bridges spanning 25 meters have been already constructed. Now the construction of large bridges is in progress.

Rakesh Jha, the representative of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited reported that blacktopping efforts are currently advancing eastward from Danda of Kawasoti, with progress reaching 27 percent. However, site clearance work is awaited at Dumkauli, Rajahar, and Gaindakot, causing delays in the overall upgrading process.

The project to upgrade a 113-kilometer road stretch from Gaindakot to Lumbini has been implemented by dividing it into two clusters: 64.42 kilometers from Gaindakot to Daunne (East Section), and 48.58 kilometers from Daunne to Butwal (West Section). Facilitated by a loan of Rs 16.99 billion from the Asian Development Bank, this project has been recognised as a project of national pride. 

Urban areas will have additional two lanes, while in Daunne, it will have a three-lane setup along a five-kilometer stretch due to topographical issues, as stated by the company.

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