Rainfall disrupts East West Highway expansion

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, May 31: The continuous rainfall ahead of the monsoon season has hampered the expansion work of the East West Highway and bridge construction projects.

Traditionally, the monsoon used to become active in Eastern Nepal around the first week of Ashad. However, this year, it has been raining continuously since May 16, without a single 24-hour dry spell in the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi area.

On the Asian Highway's Package No. 2 section, the old blacktop has already been removed and the road base is laid. The next step involves compacting the base using a road roller while applying water. Unfortunately, the excessive rainfall has made water management difficult, delaying this crucial phase of works.

Bhakta Lama, Director of CRFG-Tungdi JV, stated that all the infrastructure required for asphalt paving is ready.  “We have already set up the asphalt plant and completed a trial production. The only thing holding us back is the weather,” he said.

According to him, there are plans to pave at least 10 kilometer of the highway by mid-June.

Rain has also disrupted bridge construction. While the piling work has been completed, continued rainfall has made it impossible to proceed with work above the piles. “We managed to channel the river, but overnight floods continue to wash away our channels,” Lama explained. “We’re unable to meet our targets due to water-related challenges.”

So far, physical progress stands at 22 per cent for Package No. 2 and 18 per cent for Package No. 5, both under the management of CRFG-Tungdi JV.

Package No. 2 covers a 40-kilometer stretch from Kerkha in Jhapa to Gothgaun in Morang, with a project cost of Rs. 9.13 billion. This section includes 18 kilometers of forest area. Due to minimal land disputes and timely site clearance, 22 per cent of physical progress has been achieved. The company aims to lay asphalt in the forest area before the peak monsoon begins.

In Package No. 5, three bridges—each around 300 meters long—are being constructed over the Ratua, Bakraha and Lohandra rivers in the western section.

Work is progressing slowly in Package No. 3. According to Pallav Shrestha, Information Officer at the East-West Highway Extension Project's eastern office in Itahari, this package covers a 10.76-kilometer road from Gothgaun in Morang to Lawipur in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, under a Rs. 4 billion contract. Only 12 per cent of the physical work has been completed so far.

Shrestha also mentioned that the bridge over the Pathari River is expected to be completed by mid-June. A total of 53 culverts have been completed, and 38 are nearing completion. Additionally, 11 wildlife underpasses are being constructed to allow elephants, deer and cattle to cross the road safely.

However, delays in relocating electricity poles along the highway have also caused setbacks. “Some work has been affected because the concerned authority has not yet moved the utility poles,” Shrestha added.