Construction Oversight

Nepal's development sector faces significant challenges due to excessive delays and rising costs in executing infrastructural and other projects. Many contractors often fail to complete the projects within the specified timeframe. They are also criticised for not maintaining construction quality. Due to the contractor's frequent request for extensions of project deadlines, it causes cost and time overruns. These issues have come to the fore with the news published in this daily the other day about the stalled bridge projects in Kathmandu. The delayed projects of Kathmandu highlight the chronic mismanagement and inefficiency that also mirrors the implementation status of development projects throughout the nation.

A bridge over the Bagmati River remains incomplete years after it was started. Despite multiple agreements with the contractor, disputes over design and standards have stalled progress. A similar situation exists with a bridge over the Bishnumati River, which was completed but remains unusable due to the substandard materials used during the construction. Such instances expose the grave situation of infrastructural development in Nepal. Lack of accountability, inadequate monitoring, and poor contractor selection are the key factors affecting the progress of projects. As the contractors fail to meet deadlines or maintain quality standards, public resources are wasted and projects remain incomplete. The financial losses run into billions of rupees and increase the burden in an already strained economy.

Most of the delays in projects are due to contractor-related challenges. Issues including difficulties in securing project financing, inadequately qualified technical staff, ineffective project planning and scheduling, material shortages, late deliveries, and escalating prices, among others, complicate the project execution. One of the most serious problems arise during the pre-bidding and bidding processes. Contractors often fail to conduct proper site assessments before bidding on projects. This causes unforeseen roblems leading to delays and disputes. The concerned authorities should enforce stricter requirements for project feasibility studies before awarding contracts. The frequent use of substandard materials in construction is equally troubling. Technical monitoring should not be limited to post-completion inspections but should be on during the project's lifecycle.

The concerned authorities should establish technical mechanisms to ensure that the contractors adhere to quality standards at every stage of construction. Another major issue is the lack of stringent penalties for contractors who halt projects midway. Projects often come to a standstill due to various disagreements over design and execution. To mitigate such complexities, dispute mechanisms should be enhanced to ensure that protracted delays do not occur. The government agencies must take responsibility to ensure the terms of contracts are clearly defined and mutually agreed upon before the initiation of projects.  Every citizen deserves better from the agencies involved in managing development projects. 

Delays in the construction of critical infrastructure lead to inconvenience among the public and hamper economic activities. All tiers of government must prioritise timely and quality completion of projects. This requires improved contractor selection processes, robust oversight, and accountability for all stakeholders involved. The demand for better roads, bridges, and energy solutions is increasing in Nepal. If the cycle of inefficiency and mismanagement continues, the nation's aspirations for development will remain out of reach. It is high time experts in construction management worked together for the timely completion of projects. This is also necessary to enhance the capacity and confidence of the government in handling the development works and delivering the goods and services to the public effectively and efficiently.