Deadline extended for western section of Prithvi Highway by a year

By Amar Raj Naharki,Tanahun, Dec. 21: The deadline for the western section of the Mugling-Pokhara road project, under the ongoing expansion of the Prithvi Highway, has been extended by a year for the second time. 

Following the expiry of the previous deadline, the construction company requested an extension and got one year to complete the work. 

Delays in initiating construction, late issuance of tree-cutting orders, challenges in relocating electric transmission lines, and issues with managing water pipelines disrupted the work. 

Rajesh Paudel, the chief engineer of the western section of the project, confirmed the one-year extension. The extended deadline is  December 31, 2025. 

He reported 35 per cent progress along the 38.88 km stretch from Jamune to Pokhara. Out of the 13 bridges to be built in this section, construction of five has been completed while the construction of five others has reached the final stage. 

According to Project Chief Paudel, the 24-kilometre stretch of the road has been blacktopped with 19 kilometres of two-lane and 5 kilometres of four-lane. Paudel said, “24 kilometres of the road has been completed, and preparations are underway to bring 10 bridges into operation within a month.”

The project team reported that agreements had been signed to relocate pipelines and structures associated with 24 drinking water associations within the road upgrade areas, and the relocation is being carried out by the respective users. The Pokhara-Mugling section has been divided into two parts for expansion, both handled by Chinese companies. 

The eastern section, covering 41 kilometres from Muglinn to Jamune, has been under construction by China Communication Construction Company since April 2020. The western section, from Jamune to Pokhara, has been undertaken by Yanhui Kaiyun Highway and Bridge Construction since August 2021.

The contract for the western section was signed on May 16, 2021, and work began on August 28, 2021.  The initial deadline was set for August 28, 2024. However, due to insufficient progress within the stipulated time, the deadline was extended for the first time by 101 days. The road, initially outlined in 1969, is being upgraded to four lanes due to increasing traffic. 

The project is being implemented with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The contract for the western section amounts to Rs. 7.4 billion. 

The agreement stipulated that the road would be constructed and handed over within three years. The contract for the eastern section (Abukhaireni-Jamune) was signed on January 30, 2021, while the western section (Jamune-Pokhara) was finalised on May 16, 2021, between the government and the construction parties.