Local representatives submit memorandum to PM Oli to complete the construction works within the deadline
KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has warned that the contract will be terminated if the work on the Narayanghat-Butwal road expansion is not resumed by mid-December.
Prime Minister Oli issued the warning after receiving a memorandum submitted by the elected representatives from the districts along the Narayanghat-Butwal road section. They drew the attention of Prime Minister Oli, citing negligence in the construction work. Representatives from Rupandehi, Nawalparasi West and Nawalparasi East raised the issue during a meeting with PM Oli on Thursday.
Prime Minister Oli said that a decision regarding the delay in the road expansion will be reached soon. During the discussion, the prime minister mentioned that if the work does not begin by mid-December, there will be no option but to terminate the contract, according to his secretariat.
Prime Minister Oli emphasized that if the contractor company works reliably, it would be appropriate to assign them the task. He further stated that there is a need to avoid the tendency of holding projects without making any progress.
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Prime Minister Oli said, "The work we expected to be done with urgency and anticipation has not been achieved. The residents of that area have been suffering in dust and dirt for a long time. It has also impacted economic development activities." He added, "This issue needs to be taken seriously, and the concerned authorities must act. I have also paid serious attention to this matter. We have reached a point where we must make decisions."
The government extended the deadline for the contract of this road section three times: first in August 2022, second in July 2023, and third in July 2024. According to the third extension, the work was supposed to be completed by July 23, 2025, but only half of the work has been completed so far.
A few days ago, an all-party meeting, which included representatives from political parties in West Nawalparasi, decided to draw the government's attention to the delays in the road expansion. Accordingly, a team of elected representatives visited the prime minister at his residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.
According to the elected representatives from the three districts, the Chinese company responsible for the road expansion has delayed the work, causing hardship for passengers, drivers and residents of the settlements along the roadside.
The memorandum submitted to the prime minister states, "Due to the negligence of the concerned contracting company, the condition of the road remains chaotic, causing great inconvenience to travelers and exposing nearby residents to a polluted environment. We urge that the responsible parties be given strict instructions to accelerate the construction work."
The Chinese contractor is responsible for the road expansion, but it has faced criticism for delays in the work. Before Prime Minister Oli's visit to China, a delegation consisting of members of the House of Representatives, Provincial Assembly members, heads of the concerned district coordination committees and municipal mayors from three districts submitted the memorandum.
The memorandum was presented to Prime Minister Oli by Bhagauti Yadav Rudal, the chief of the District Coordination Committee of Nawalparasi West, citing negligence in the construction work. He stated that the company responsible for the construction should be given strict instructions to complete the work quickly.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal, Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives Balram Adhikari and Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Keshab Sharma were also present during the meeting.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure Dahal said that despite repeated warnings to the construction company, the work had not started. He, however, said that he had received assurance that the work will begin by the end of December.
A contract agreement was made with the China State Construction company on March 22, 2019, to complete the construction of the road section by August 7, 2022. So far, 44 percent of the payment has been made and 52 percent of the work has been completed.
The agreement for the expansion of the Narayanghat-Butwal road section was signed with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 113-kilometer-long road expansion project was divided into two sections, with separate contracts awarded for each.
The contract for the 64.42-kilometer eastern section, known as Gaindakot-Daunne, and the 48.58-kilometer western section, known as Daunne-Butwal, was signed for a total cost of Rs 16.99 billion. China State Construction was awarded the contract for the Gaindakot-Daunne section at a cost of Rs 9.13 billion and the Daunne-Butwal section at a cost of Rs 7.86 billion.
