Chainpur-Taklakot road construction moving at snail’s pace

By Our Correspondent,Bajhang, Feb. 28: The construction of Chainpur-Taklakot road connecting Tibet Autonomous Region of China, located 117 kilometers away from Chainpur, the district headquarters of Bajhang district, has started at a slow pace. The project, which started in 2062 BS, has opened only 39 kilometers of track in 17 years. 

The 18-km Chainpur-Ruwatola section of this road was completed by the Decentralised Infrastructure and Livelihood Programme (DRLP) in 2068 BS.

The construction work was halted for a year due to a dispute between the residents of the two local villages over where to take the road when it was to start from Ruwatola to the north.

Since then, millions of rupees have been allocated for the construction of this road regularly, but due to the delay of the contractor company making various excuses, the construction of this road has been going on at a snail's pace.

Tularam Sharma, Chief of Chainpur -Taklakot Road Project, said that the tender for 18 kilometres of the Chainpur to Taklakot road was received by the Lumbini Rajendra JV in 2072 BS and the work was completed. 

He said that in 2074 BS, the Swachchhandra Baniya Nargajun JV Construction Service received the tender and got the responsibility for track opening of the road up to 42 kilometres for the 18-kilometer northern area.

Admitting that the JV has been carrying out the work at a slow pace, Sharma said that due to geographical constraints, hard rocks, occasional snowfall, track opening work was stopped for a long time. 

Also, in the meantime, there has been no progress in construction due to COVID-19 and negligence of the company. 

"We are preparing to take necessary action if the Swachchhandra Baniya Nargajun JV Construction Service fails to complete the work by mid-July," he said. 

Chainpur-Taklakot road is the shortest transit point in Nepal connecting India's capital Delhi to Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Bhanubhakta Joshi, Member of the House of Representatives and former Forest Minister, Narayan Pandey Chief District Officer, Chetraj Bajal, Mayor of Jaya Prithvi Municipality and Chairman of Talkot Rural Municipality Kalak Bahadur Rokaya inspected the road.

Member of the House of Representatives and former Forest Minister Joshi said that necessary action would be taken against the construction service and contractors who do not complete the construction work on time. 

"We have requested to recommend necessary action against any contractor or construction businessman who has been holding the contract for years but has not been able to complete the work," he said.