Minister Jwala inspects Postal Highway in Banke

By Govinda Sharma,Banke, Feb. 17: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala has said that the government will not compromise the quality and timely completion of development projects.

Speaking at an interaction programme held at Khajura in Bnake district on Friday, after 

inspecting the Nepalgunj-Gulariya road section under the Postal Road, Minister Jwala said, “We have taken action against the contractors who do not accomplish projects in time, and the employees who neglect their duties." 

Minister Jwala said that the Ministry had given special emphasis on completing quality development projects within the stipulated time. 

Stating that budget management was the responsibility of 

the government, he said that the construction entrepreneurs should focus on completing work within the deadline. 

He said a policy had been adopted to honour the construction entrepreneurs who do quality work within the stipulated time.

Stating that mutual coordination and cooperation among the three levels of government was necessary for the timely completion of development works, he suggested that development works should be taken as a common concern. 

Minister Jwala inspected the Postal Road at various places in Banke and Bardiya districts. He also inspected the Paraspur-Gaughat road section.

About 57 per cent of progress has been made in the Nepalgunj-Gulariya road section in a year, but the construction works of the Paraspur-Gaughat road have been delayed.  

Minister Jwala urged the contractor to continue the work on the Nepalgunj-Gularia section stating that budget was demanded from the Ministry of Finance.

Lila Bahadur Bhandari, chief of the Postal Highway Directorate Planning Office, Nepalgunj said, " Sharma and Company had started the work from February 8, 2023, to complete the work at Rs. 2.78 billion excluding value-added tax."

Project Chief Bhandari said, "Inability to pay the contractors has emerged as a big problem."

Khajura Rural Municipality Chairperson Dambar BK drew the attention of Minister Jwala to complete the construction of a 1,800-meter four-lane road at Khajura Bazaar which started six years ago and construct a bridge over the Pedari Nallah.

Ramesh Sharma, Managing Director of Sharma and Company, said that Rs. 440 million is yet to be paid for the work done. 

Sharma said, "If the money is released on time, the work will be completed within the next year and at least 20 kilometres of the road will be blacktopped this year."

 Of the 27.62 km long road, 11.6 km is being made four-lane.