Parliamentary committee inspects Araniko Highway

By Kedar Timalsina,Banepa, Sept. 9: The Infrastructure Development Committee of the Federal Parliament inspected the Araniko Highway from Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur to Kodari in Sindhupalchok on Sunday.

A team of the committee led by its member Shankar Bhandari evaluated the ongoing works along the Suryavinayak-Dhulikhel and Dhulikhel-Khawa sections of the highway.

The committee inspected the road when there were complaints that the commuters were facing problems while travelling along the highway. 

During the inspection, residents of Khawa, Panchkhal, expressed frustration over the delays made in expanding the road by Gauri Parvati Construction Company. 

Despite being awarded a 22-month contract, the company had failed to make significant progress, even five months after the deadline expired. Locals voiced their dissatisfaction with the road department, construction firms and the government, highlighting numerous issues including unsafe road conditions and delays.

District Coordination Committee chair of Kavrepalachwok Dip Kumar Gautam said that inadequate work by the construction company had resulted in several road accidents, injuring many and causing fatalities. 

He attributed these problems to the subcontracting practices of Gauri Parvati Construction Company, which had passed responsibilities to other businesses.

Gautam highlighted the risks of landslides due to improper road cutting and inadequate wall height, urging for a review and increase in wall height to ensure safety.

Gautam also called for an amendment to the Public Procurement Act, which he argued currently favours businesses over public interests. Committee member Shankar Bhandari noted that the committee not only inspected the Dhulikhel-Khawa section but also addressed widespread citizen complaints and parliamentary concerns. He instructed the Road Division and construction professionals to prepare a cost estimate within seven days for the protection of vulnerable government offices and houses, with the promise of support if the budget was insufficient.

Lawmaker Madhav Sapkota disapproved of the road department for its delayed response and questioned why the contract was not terminated earlier. He urged the Road Department to cancel the current contract and expedite the new contract process, given the poor condition of all projects undertaken by Gauri Parvati Construction.

Lawmaker Thakur Gaire suggested that the committee would further discuss the highway issues among MPs and issue directives to the government and the Road Department. He proposed that post-contract expiration, the department should assess whether to extend or terminate contracts after 200 days, to avoid prolonged suffering of the public.

Sushila Shrestha, a committee member, stressed that citizens were bearing the brunt of delays and assured that the committee would provide recommendations to the government following their findings.

Director General of the Roads Department, Ramhari Pokharel, explained that although the contract had not yet been cancelled, the department was considering it due to ongoing delays. He noted that while the builders had committed to paving two kilometres of road by May 29, 2025, progress had been hampered by weather conditions. The department plans to decide on the contract based on the work it would complete by the end of October, Pokharel said.

In the discussion, local officials including Mahesh Kharel, Mayor of Panchkhal Municipality, and ward chairpersons from Dhulikhel and Panchkhal, highlighted the negative impact of the delays on their communities. Chief CDI Meghraj Marasini from the Division Road Office Bhaktapur disapproved of the builders for their lack of progress despite the office’s efforts to ensure timely completion. 

Bharat Thapa, a representative of the builders, acknowledged the shortcomings and attributed the delays to adverse weather conditions, promising that four kilometres of the road would be completed by March if weather conditions improved.